^"Ig^^^] ^^- ^- Fisher, Habits of the Laysan Albatross. 1 7 



spirit, but is a thoroughly ruffian-Uke proceeding. We were all 

 agreed that nigripcs indulged in it rather more than ifnmutabilis, 

 and was likewise more savage. Dr. Gilbert observed a Black- 

 footed Albatross take in a circle of about twenty young immutabi- 

 lis and wool them soundly. Finally, however, the bully arrived 

 at a youngster whose parent, being unexpectedly near by, set upon 

 the persecutor with disastrous effect, and in the ensuing scrimmage 

 put nigripes completely to rout. Not a few of the young die as a 

 result of this treatment. I am just now at a loss to suggest an 

 explanation for the prevalence of such heartless behavior. 



Near the forms or nests one not infrequently tinds solid pellets, 

 disgorged by the Albatrosses, consisting entirely of squid beaks, 

 and the opaque lenses of the eyes. These lenses become very 

 brittle and amber-like under the action of the stomach juices, and 

 show a concentric structure. Candle-nuts, the large seed of Aleu- 

 rites molluccana, were found by Prof. Snyder in the interior of 

 the island and were almost undoubtedly ejected by Albatrosses. 

 As is well known, Albatrosses pick up all sorts of floating material, 

 and candle-nuts are frequently seen on the ocean, having been 

 swept to sea by mountain streams. The nearest trees are on 

 Kauai, about 700 miles east. This suggests a means by which 

 many hard floating seeds might be carried into the interior of 

 islands by albatrosses, shearwaters, petrels, and frigate birds, and 

 thus obtain a foothold, whereas if swept ashore on barren rocks or 

 beaches they would stand little chance of ever germinating. 



In large colonies of animals, it has always been something of a 

 problem how a parent is able to find its young among so many of 

 its kind. The voice is probably responsible in some cases, but 

 as birds are extremely keen of sight and evince a positive genius 

 for discriminating landmarks, I believe the Albatrosses must in 

 some way depend upon peculiarities in the surroundings of their 

 young. It is worthy of record, however, that the young often 

 ' sing ' in a thin, high squeak, which is kept up continuously for 

 periods, and may be of service in guiding the parent, though I 

 could not distinguish the slightest individuality in tone. I do not 

 know whether they do this when the old birds are present, but 

 remember that very many were engaged in the cricket-like song 

 when we visited a populous colony late one moonlight night. 



