22 
and feathers. The diameter outside at the top 
was twelve inches, and at the base eighteen. In- 
side it was ten inches, and the depth inside was 
tive inches. It was situated on the top of the 
rocks, on a loamy plain. The incubation was 
fresh. The following notes by J. W. Detmiller, 
M. D., were on the back of the data: “The nests 
are very nicely and solidly built, lasting two or 
three seasons, even in that fearful climate. They 
are built very closely together, and are probably 
often mistaken, by one and another of the birds, 
after the fashion of many sea birds. The nests 
are high, to enable the long-winged creatures to 
rise easily to wing, which they cannot do on a 
level. The birds are very tame, allowing them- 
selves to be handled while sitting.” 
The egg now before me measures 4 6-8x2 6-8 
inches, and is of an oblong form, smaller at one 
end than the other. Both ends are quite blunt. 
The surface of the shell is in character like a com- 
mon hen’s egg. The color inclines to a light 
creamy white, with a ring of seemingly fine spat- 
tered burnt sienna specks or spots, like those 
made by drawing a brush of color across a stick, 
as a painter does to get the effect of granite. They 
form a ring around the larger end, being about 
two inches across from one side of the ring to the 
other. The centre of the ring runs together in 
the fine markings, making the color almost solid 
and fades away from the outer edge of the ege, 
almost to needles points. 
Dr. J. G. Cooper says this species is a rare visi- 
tant on the Pacific coast. He has, however, seen 
a skin answering to the description of this species 
in the Academy of Natural Science in San Fran- 
cisco, California. It was made by Dr. W. A. 
Ayers, from a dead specimen, washed up on the 
outer beach near the Golden Gate. 
I found the following description of a person 
who had paid a visit to the Albatross home, in a 
San Francisco newspaper. 
words : 
“One day, when I was at the Aukland Islands, 
a group situated in latitude 51° south, and longi- 
tude 166 east, | had an unexpected opportunity of 
securing to myself that great privilege of a visit to 
their private home circle. 
I give it in his own 
A large party of us 
landed at Port Ross, and, starting under the guid- 
ance of an aged chief named Malionri, arrived in 
(ue time at a secluded and densely wooded val- 
ley, which opened to the sandy shore of a deep 
bay. We had this to cross. Facing us was a 
lofty hill, clothed to the top with shrubs and trees 
of a stunted growth.. By the aid of roots and 
branches we continued to scramble up, and at last 
emerged from the abyss of shrubs we had been 
traversing, and stood breathless upon a piece of 
ORNITHOLOGIST 
[Vol. 11-No. 2 
tableland that jutted into the sea. Nota tree or 
shrub was to be seen, the only vegetation being a 
stunted sort of tussock of grass. But we were at 
the Bird Village, and to our great delight found 
the inhabitants at home. We had arrived during 
the season of incubation, Each nest was occu- 
pied by the hen bird, and close by stood her mate 
—a loving guardian. Nothing could induce her 
to leave the nest. She would look at us implor- 
ingly if we came near, and express her objection 
to our visit by a harsh snapping of the beak, but 
she bided her egg. The male at the same time 
made a slight show of resistance, and then, with 
uncouth gait and a spasmodic action of the wings, 
waddled away to the cliff. 
“The nests were quite simple in their construc- 
tion. Each of them was made by pressing down 
a clump of grass into the form of a shallow bowl, 
in depth and circumference not much larger than 
asoup-plate. I take it for granted that the female 
only lays one egg. Indeed, the little nest, which 
the breast of the bird covers and overlaps, could 
not hold more. Well trodden Albatross roads in- 
tersect each other in the village, and the birds high- 
road led from the nest to the edge of the cliff, 
whence they cast themselves forth on the wing. 
It seemed to us also that there was an attention 
paid to regularity in placing the nests in a line or 
street, so that one main path might communicate 
with them all.” 
a 
A Day in Chatville. 
BY HARRY G. PARKER, CHESTER, PA, 
The eggs of the Yellow-breasted Chat, (Zeferdu 
vierens), have always appeared to my eye to be 
among the most beautiful laid by any species 
breeding in our midst. Apart from the beauty of 
a normal specimen, they are possessed of differ- 
ence so varied, both in size and markings, that 
few oblogists are aware of, unless they have had 
the privilege of examining a large number of sets 
at one time. Now as this species was only repre- 
sented in my cabinet by one set, and that col- 
lected by a friend, the idea of taking a number of 
sets came up before my mind on just such a 
stormy, wintry night as the thoughts of the 
naturalist love to dwell on the memory of green 
fields and babbling brooks. Seated before a cosy 
grate fire in my study, in slippered feet, with ad- 
ditional comfort lent by the indulgence of a pipe, 
I bid defiance to the elements without, and pro- 
jected a trip for the coming season to a spot not 
more than twenty miles from Philadelphia, which 
is admirably adapted by nature to the nidification 
of this bird. I sat long, and mused and wondered 
whether the place Thad in view would prove as 
