582 



SUBANTARCTIC ISLANDS OF NEW ZEALAND. 



[Aves. 



packed where it occurred. At the time I considered the birds were catching fish, 

 but later changed my views. It is quite impossible to convey any idea of the num- 

 ber of birds thus engaged. In passing from the shore to their feeding-grounds, or in 

 the reverse direction, their flight behind, over, and in front of the vessel was a con- 

 stant stream, and this continued for many miles. The birds returning to shore were 

 noticed to be heavy with food ; their bodies were fully distended, and their flight, 

 in consequence, distinctly laboured. The addition of several ounces of food to the 

 weight of so delicately adjusted an organism as a flying-bird must have an 

 appreciable effect on its flight, as, 

 indeed, we had ample evidence in 

 the case of the gorged shags. As the 

 " Hinemoa " drew towards the shore we 

 fell in with the satiated birds sitting on 

 the water. 



A flat stretch of rock below our 

 camp at the Auckland Islands proved 

 to be a favourite assembling-ground for 

 shags, and we had no trouble in thus 

 observing them. The accompanying 

 photographs were taken there. The 

 birds were always accompanied by gulls. 

 We secured several on different occa- 

 sions, and caged three individuals for 

 study, two of which laid eggs. Being 

 anxious to ascertain what the birds were 

 feeding upon, I examined the stomachn 

 of others, and found them to be crowded 

 with small crustaceans resembling Mu- 

 nida : one contained small fish-bones in 

 addition. 



Rowing up North Arm, we landed 

 on Figure of Eight Island, and came 

 across a very large mob of shags, and 

 charged them like schoolboys. While 

 scores got past us, we forced others 

 across a tussocky patch to the rocks 

 beyond, whence they took to wing. 



The birds scarcely attempted to fly until they reached the edge of the rocks, 

 but ran at considerable speed. All, with the exception of six specimens, suc- 

 ceeded in escaping. I examined the stomachs of our captures, and in every case 

 found them to contain the reddish mass which I have above attributed to partially 

 digested Munida. 



Since the foregoing was written, Professor Benham writes to me, "The 

 shags that wore opened had the stomach filled with the crustacean Munida sub- 

 rugosa.^' 



Hah. — Auckland Islands. 



Fig. 23. — Auckland Island Shag at close range. 



