[19] WORK OF STEAMER ALBATROSS. 389 



portion of the island. The elaborate nests were circular iu form, 16 to 

 18 inches in diameter at the base, 6 inches in height, and ten inches in 

 diameter at the top, hollowed out and lined with grass and small twigs. 

 They were so placed as to get the greatest possible number in a given 

 space, the nests of one row alternating with those of the next with great 

 regularity. This applies more particularly to the central portion, as 

 the nests on the outskirts were irregularly placed, having open spaces 

 of several feet in extent at times. There was great commotion among 

 the birds as we approached, the more timid taking to their heels, or 

 wings, according to individual ideas of the necessities of the moment, 

 but the great mass remained until we approached within fifty feet, 

 enabling us to take several photographs. 



One nest might contain from one to three eggs, the next a couple of 

 young just hatched, the soft, velvety skin as black as jet, and no sign 

 of feathers, while in a third might be seen two or three half-grown birds 

 covered with a uniform growth of down nearly black. The young birds 

 were unable to fly, and the old ones seemed disinclined to use their 

 wings at close quarters. When a rush was made by the men they sitn- 

 ply scurried off en masse, leaving the young, who seemed to have little 

 or no fear of us, several of them taking food from our hands without 

 the least hesitation. 



Another species was found nesting on the cliffs, and could be distin- 

 guished by their black necks, those of the rookery being white. Speci- 

 mens of eggs and birds, adults and young, of both species were col- 

 lected. 



There were a few wild geese, an occasional hawk, and many gulls on 

 the remote points. These last were nesting, their eggs lying on the 

 ground without the least attempt at nest-building, the young being left 

 to hide themselves as best they could when we approached. They con- 

 cealed themselves in the grass, under a bush or stone, or even on the 

 beach, while the older ones took to the water and paddled about under 

 the matronage of an old gull. 



We found a shell heap on the island, from which several stone imple- 

 ments and bones were procured. Professor Lee met with deserved suc- 

 cess in his exploration of the shell heaps of Elizabeth Island, and the 

 others did very well in general collecting. 



January 21 commenced with weather overcast and light westerly 

 winds, which backed to SW. between 5 and 6 a. in., increasing to a 

 moderate gale at 11. This made communication with the shore so diffi- 

 cult that the parties were called on board, and at 2.40 p. m. we steamed 

 to Laredo Bay, anchoring there at 4.20. We expected to find it smooth, 

 as the wind was off shore, but there was sufficient surf on the beach 

 to make lauding unpleasant ; so the collectors were obliged to remain on 

 board until 4 o'clock the following morning, when they landed and com- 

 menced work in various directions. 



