AND OTHER BIRDS 17 



September 22nd, and was brief owing to 

 adverse weather conditions. We found neither 

 the Mutton bird, Titi Wainui, nor the Kuaka in 

 any of the numerous holes probed and examined. 

 The Parara was no doubt sitting, for the noise 

 of the bird disturbed by our footsteps and pro- 

 testing from the cavernous depths of its burrow 

 was frequently heard ; and a fortnight later eggs 

 of this breed just about to hatch were got in 

 several burrows. 



It was evident from experience gained in this 

 island that not all, at any rate, of the Mutton 

 Birds laid their eggs on the one day. In order, 

 however, to discover the earliest date upon 

 which this Petrel lays we determined to camp 

 on the islet and particularly to make a point of 

 witnessing the occurrences on the mysterious 

 25th November that day on which every Petrel 

 of this breed deposits its egg, "on land for 

 preference, but otherwise on the surface of the 



