A Monograph of Marcus Island. 107 



The skin secured was that of typ^coX iniinutabilis and meas- 

 ured: Length 30.50, wing 18.00, tail 5.65, tarsus 3.10, toe 4.20, 

 cuhnen 4.00, depth of bill 1.35. 



Diomedea nigripes Aud. Black-footed Albatross. 



Not a single bird was seen on the island, and indeed few at 

 any time at sea. I learned that they had formerly been almost as 

 abundant as the white-breasted species, and had been exterminated 

 simultaneousl}^ with them. The bird hunters did not secure a 

 specimen during the season of 1902. 



Priofinus cuneatus (Salvin.). Wedge-tailed Shearwater. 



This "Mutton bird", as it is commonly called by sea-going 

 people, without in any way distinguishing it from its numerous 

 cousins, was found wdth eggs and young in all stages of develop- 

 ment. As the species has been previously reported from Sulphur 

 Island (Bonin group), Krusenstern Island (Marshall group), as 

 well as from Laysan and Kauai of the Hawaiian group, it was not 

 .strange that it should be found at this spot, which is more or less 

 intermediate between them all. 



Flying largely at night as the species does, and consequently 

 spending much of the day sitting about on the ground or in their 

 burrows they are quite available for specimens, though the}' in- 

 variably make good use of their beaks and claws before they are 

 finally taken. The shady interior was most frequented by them, 

 especially the edge of the soft alluvial earthy deposits which are 

 well suited to their burrowing habits. None were seen on the 

 southwest point,. though this portion of the island was mainly coral 

 sand and leaf mould and quite thickly wooded. They are to be 

 seen, a pair together, during the day dozing under a log, about the 

 roots of the trees, under low bushes or in holes. A hole which I 

 dug out in one of the alluvial patches was eight feet long, six inches 

 in diameter, and eighteen inches below the surface. From it a 

 parent bird and a downy 3'oung were taken. On the wing they 

 fly rapidl}-, going far out to sea for their food. While we saw in- 

 dividuals almost every da}^ during our journe}' to and from the 

 island, they were far more plentiful inside a circle with a radius of 

 .say three hundred miles, a distance which they can easily go and 

 return during the same day. 



