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of Observatory Bay is of a different character (for the most part) from that which is adjacent to 

 the American Station, and, being less favourable than it, was seldom resorted to for nesting by 

 the Petrels. But the country in general about our bay afforded them unlimited accommodation ; 

 for, provided that they can find a slope of shattered rocks with suitable chinks and crevices, or 

 dry spaces under stones or large boulders sheltered from draughts, whether they be near the 

 Sound or on the sides and summits of high hills, they readily appropriate them. The egg is 

 laid upon the bare ground within the recess selected by the birds, either in a chance depression 

 formed by contiguous stones or in a shallow circular hollow excavated in the earth by the parent. 

 Having found numbers of their nesting-places, I will describe my method of searching for them. 

 Whenever there was a calm night I used to walk with a darkened bull's-eye lantern towards 

 some rocky hill-side, such as the Petrels would be likely to frequent. It was best to shut off 

 the light and keep it concealed, using it only in dangerous places where falls would be attended 

 with injury and progress in the dark was hardly possible, lest the birds seeing it should be 

 silenced. On arriving at the ground selected it was probable that Storm-Petrels would be heard 

 in various directions, some on the wing, others on their nests, sounding their call at intervals of 

 from two to five minutes. Those on the nest could be distinguished from others flying by their 

 cries proceeding from fixed positions. Having settled which of the birds should be searched 

 after, a cautious advance had to be made in her direction, two or three steps at a time, when she 

 was in full cry. As soon as she ceased, an abrupt halt was imperative ; and a pause of some 

 minutes might ensue before she recommenced her cry and permitted another slight advance to 

 be effected. In the course of this gradual approach the position of the bird might be ascer- 

 tained approximately ; but it had to be determined precisely ; and to learn exactly where she was, 

 she had to be stalked in the dark noiselessly. No gleam could be permitted to escape from the 

 lantern. Loose stones and falls over rocks — to avoid them it was sometimes necessary to dispense 

 with slippers, and feel one's way in stockings only ; for should the Petrel be alarmed once with 

 the noise or the light, she would probably remain silent a considerable time. Now and then it 

 would happen that upon the boulder beneath which she was sitting being almost attained the 

 bird would cease calling. When this occurred, and many minutes elapsed without her cry being 

 resumed, it was advisable to make a detour and approach the rock from the opposite side, as her 

 silence might be attributed to her seeing a person advancing towards her, and she would probably 

 recommence her call so soon as he was out of sight. If she did not, a small pebble thrown 

 amongst the rocks would usually elicit some sounds from her, as she would most likely conclude 

 that the noise was being made by her mate returning to the nest. When the stone beneath 

 which the bird was domiciled was gained at last, redoubled care had to be exercised. By 

 stooping down and listening very attentively her position could be accurately ascertained. Then 

 the lantern was suddenly turned upon her before she had time to creep out of sight, and her 

 egg could be secured with the hand, or with a spoon tied on to a stick. Sometimes I worked 

 without a lantern, and marked the positions of the nests with piles of stones so that they might 

 be revisited by clay. Several eggs were obtained in February from nests which had been thus 

 marked early in the previous month. The first egg taken by us was found by a retriever on the 

 22nd of January, on an island in Swain's Bay. Captain Fairfax sent me a nestling a day or two 

 before we sailed for the Cape. Two of the eggs were laid in unusual situations : one of tbem 



