Aves.] 



SUBANTARCTIC ISLANDS OF NEW ZEALAND. 



569 



" We found the albatroses breeding in large numbers, the plains and the moun- 

 tain-sides being everywhere dotted with sitting birds, and almost unconsciously our 

 path was a zigzag, as we deviated to look now at this bird and now at that. In 

 several birds which we thus examined we found ticks as large as a pea, their snouts 

 imbedded close to the eye or beak of the bird. But I am afraid the expressions of 

 gratitude were scarcely commensurate with the trouble we took to extract the offend- 

 ing parasites. These birds breed later on the Antipodes than do the royal alba- 

 troses at the Campbells, for their eggs were quite fresh, and many birds sitting on 

 newly formed nests had not yet laid. The nests are large mounds, raised from 1 ft. 



Fig. 13. — Nest anl> Egg of Wandebing Alb.viho.s (Uiumedea cxulaiis), Antipodes Island. 



to 18 in., and formed of scrapings, so that they have a bare area of varying extent 

 around them. The nests are sometimes fairly close together, but sociability does 

 not appear to be a characteristic as far as breeding is concerned. Yearling birds 

 seemed to be still haunting the vicinity of their cradles, and they were very noisy 

 at our approach. Their plumage is dark, and when we were scarcely within a dozen 

 yards of them they would stand up high upon their legs, cackle at us, and make a 

 great to-do. The sitting birds made little demonstration until it was evident that 

 we actually intended to interfere with them, when we were greeted with a loud snap- 

 ping of the beak, which produced a hollow sound. By pressing the handle of my 



