1^6 Armstrong, On Albatross Island. L isf "lan. 



rookery ; each one that lost its egg would, on being released, 

 put its head between its legs and look for the Qgg, and, although 

 failing to find it, continue sitting. 



When you have robbed an Albatross, and are carrying off the 

 spoil, sometimes you will be followed by a jet of green oily 

 liquid from the bird's throat. 



Nests are placed in many instances about 3 feet apart. They 

 are composed of a mixture of earth and tussock-grass cemented 

 by excrement. Measurements as follows : — Diameter, base, 22 

 inches ; diameter over all — top 18 inches, hollow 11x3^ inches, 

 height from 3 to 9 inches. The nest is small for the size of the 

 bird, which when sitting covers the top with her breast-feathers. 

 Observations lead me to believe that the nest is built in the fol- 

 lowing way : — The Albatross, seated on the ground, digs all 

 round with her bill, and then draws the loosened earth into a 

 circular ridge, later adding grass. The domestic arrangements 

 of the Albatross family are such that this modest beginning 

 grows yearly into a fair-sized pyramid. The annual additions to 

 the nest, I think, are tussock and excretion, no earth. The 

 egg is of a dull white colour, rough surfaced and minutely 

 pitted, having generally a zone or cap of specks of reddish- 

 brown, though some specimens are pure white. Measurements 

 of three — 4>^ x 2\l inches, 4.% x 2^ inches, 4x25^ inches. 

 The laying season must begin about the end of September or 

 early in October, as most of the eggs taken were far advanced in 

 incubation. 



After spending an hour on the island we were compelled to 

 leave to catch a favourable tide — in the absence of wind, a con- 

 sideration. The craft in which we made the voyage was the 

 Dart, an 8-ton fishing smack, 38 x 8 x 33^ feet, which was ably 

 handled by our skipper, Wm. Freeburgh, of Stanley. 



In addition to the White-capped Albatross, I have notes on 

 the following birds : — 



Pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus). — A few nests were seen on 

 Penguin Island, and five had fresh eggs; there were 32 birds present, 

 and other nests were preparing. 



White-bellied Sea-Eagle {Haliaetus leucogaster). — I had the 

 pleasure of examining a new nest of this fine bird, and though both 

 Eagles were about the nest, which was placed on a flat rock on the top 

 of a bold, jutting promontory, and was newly lined with green leaves, 

 there were no eggs. 



Wedge-tailed Eagle {UroaHus audax). — The season seemed " out 

 of joint " with Eagles. A new nest (I flushed the bird from it) of this 

 species was examined, and seemed just ready for eggs. 



Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia). — Not so numerous as in the 

 Furneaux Isles. Two nests, with fresh eggs, seen on 2nd and 3rd 

 November. 



Pacific Gull (Gabianus pacificus). — Plentiful ; many nests seen: 



