OPEN NESTS 141 



species). As we have already seen, the type of an 

 open nest very generally prevails amongst the crude 

 nest-forms, so that it will not be necessary to notice 

 these again, but confine our observations to such nests 

 as are of more or less elaborate architecture. 



Beginning with the lower groups in the avine 

 system, we must revert once again to that order 

 which includes the Petrels and termed Procellarii- 

 formes. In this order the nests of the Albatrosses 

 must be included in the present chapter. We have 

 already had occasion to describe various types of nest 

 in this assemblage of birds, none of them being very 

 elaborate ; those of the Albatrosses, however, are 

 much better made. Five species of these birds 

 apparently resort to lonely Kerguelen Island for 

 nesting purposes, returning to the old colonies year 

 by year, and in some cases at least using the same 

 homes each recurring season. The nests of several 

 of these species have been described by Mr R. Hall, 

 and from his notes we derive the following particulars. 

 The favourite breeding grounds of the Great Albatross 

 {Diomedea chionoptera) appeared to be undulating 

 ground near a low beach, the cliffs not being so much 

 in request. In no less than three large colonies, as 

 well as in the case of isolated pairs, the nests were 

 usually built within fifty feet above sea-level. Some 

 of the nests were quite out of sight of the sea, half a 

 mile inland, and on ground where ridges and small 

 fresh water lakes intervened. The nests were made 



