Petrels of the Kermadec Group. 429 



right out in the open, and in some rare instances exposed to 

 the sun. The birds were very gentle and allowed themselves 

 to be handled without protest, whereas the large downy young 

 strongly objected. While camping out in the bush, the non- 

 sitting birds were observed to come flying in at sunset, and 

 before settling, to circle about a single spot, calling all the 

 time as if to let their mates know that they were coming. 

 Soon after dark all became quiet, save now and then one 

 broke the silence as if enquiring for its mate. Early in the 

 morning, just before sunrise, the birds which had not to 

 sit would leave again for the day. 



The result of our investigations was the rejection of 

 every theory of incipient species, or varieties, in connection 

 with the Sunday Island bird. Every degree of coloration 

 was met with in every location, and there seemed no means 

 of distinguishing any forms. Mutton's information proved 

 to have been unreliable, as there were no inland ridges 

 which could be differentiated from coastal cliffs : both terms 

 were inaccurate and misleading. There was a variation in 

 the colour of the down from pure white to dark grey, but it 

 was not constant and could not be utilised to separate any 

 forms. For the next three months every bird that gave 

 any indication of abnormality was handled and examined. 

 In conversation, I have stated that I had handled thousands 

 of these birds, and I have been scoffed at, yet it is absolutely 

 the truth. 



The fully grown immature birds form the staple diet of 

 the islanders, and we bad to depend upon them for our meat 

 supply. They were collected in the first three weeks of April, 

 and between 2000 and 3000 were preserved. When these 

 were being collected, I paid special attention to the matter of 

 variation, and the numbers taken were recorded. A not un- 

 common occurrence was the finding of abnormal specimens 

 due to improper feeding. In many cases two birds sitting 

 close together would become antagonistic, and one mother 

 bird would drive the other one away at every opportunity, 

 so that the young of the latter would obtain just sufficient 

 food to keep it alive and be noticeably reduced in every 



SER. X. VOL. II. 2 G 



