293 



insensible tip of the bill, I frequently amused myself by capturing specimens in this way, and, 

 after detaining them sufficiently long to afford me an opportunity for investigating any particular 

 point respecting which I wished to satisfy myself, setting them at liberty again, after having 

 marked many, in order to ascertain whether the individuals which were flying round the ship at 

 nightfall were the same that were similarly engaged at daylight in the morning after a night's 

 run of 120 miles ; and this in many instances proved to be the case. When brought upon deck, 

 from which it cannot take wing, it readily becomes tame, and allows itself to be handled almost 

 immediately ; still I believe that no member of this group can be domesticated, in consequence of 

 the difficulty of procuring a supply of natural food." 



It would appear from the above observations that Captain Hutton is mistaken in his con- 

 clusion that this species is " quite diurnal in its habits, both at sea and on land " (Ibis, 

 1865, p. 278). 



Nothing very positive has been ascertained respecting its breeding-habits, although it is 

 said to breed in the Falkland Islands. 



