WILSON'S PETREL. 147 



They were easily caught when the stones were rolled aside ; 

 but they were in couples, merely preparing for laying, and 

 therefore we did not find any eggs. On our way back to 

 Observatory Bay, after the * Transit,' we called at the American 

 Station, and were informed by Dr. Kidder that he had observed 

 this Petrel on the shore near Molloy Point. The sea-shore 

 in the neighbourhood of Observatory Bay is of a different 

 character (for the most part) from that which is adjacent to the 

 American Station, and, being less favourable than it, was 

 seldom resorted to for nesting by the Petrels. The country 

 in general about our bay afforded them unlimited accom- 

 modation. For, provided that they can find a slope of 

 shattered rocks with suitable chinks and crevice;?, or dry 

 spaces under stones or large boulders sheltered from draughts, 

 whether they be near the Sound or on the sides and summits 

 of high hills, they readily appropriate them. 



" The egg is laid upon the bare ground within the recess 

 selected by the birds, either in a chance depression formed by 

 contiguous stones, or in a shallow circular hollow excavated in 

 the earth by the parent. Having found numbers of their 

 nesting-places, I will describe my method of searching for 

 them. Whenever there was a calm night I used to walk with a 

 darkened bull's-eye lantern towards some rocky hill-side, such 

 as the Petrels would be likely to frequent. It was best to shut 

 off the light and keep it concealed, using it only in dangerous 

 places, where falls would be attended with injury and progress 

 in the dark was hardly possible, lest the birds, seeing it, should 

 be silenced. On arriving at the ground selected, it was pro- 

 bable that the Storm - Petrels would be heard in various 

 directions, some on the wing, others on their nests, sounding 

 their call at intervals of from two to five minutes. Those on 

 nests could be distinguished from others flying by their cries 

 proceeding from fixed positions. Having settled which of 

 the birds should be searched after, a cautious advance had to 

 be made in her direction, two or three steps at a time, when 

 she was in full cry. As soon as she ceased an abrupt halt 

 was imperative, and a pause of some minutes might ensue 

 before she recommenced her cry and permitted another slight 

 advance to be effected. In the course of this gradual 

 approach the position of the bird might be ascertained 



L 2 



