MAJAQUEUS PARKINSONL 



to breed. It is diurnal in its habits, hunting in the open sea like an Albatros. . . . 

 The stomachs of several which were examined contained blubber-like matter, and the 

 sharp-pointed beak of some cephalopod. It breeds in communities, often resortino- 

 for that purpose to the tops of low mountains far removed from the sea. The Maoris 

 soon discover these breeding-places, and not only collect the young, but capture large 

 numbers of the old birds by lighting fires on calm nights, and thus decoying them to 

 their destruction. M. parkinsoni is also said to breed on the coast ranges north of 

 Manukau, and on the Cape Colville peninsula, and on many of the islands off the 

 eastern shore. Mr. Reischek found it nesting under the root of a tree, near the top of 

 Waikomiti Hill, fully twelve miles from the sea ; he likewise met with it on the Little 

 Barrier, principally on the tops of the hills about the centre of the island, generally in 

 natural cavities adapted to the wants of the bird. When not breeding, two were often 

 associated in the same hole, but when the nest contained an egg, the female only 

 remained in charge. In the month of November he saw the old birds cleaning out and 

 adapting the hole selected, and collecting dry leaves and pieces of moss to form a nest, 

 which is usually placed in a depression at the end of the cavity. These breeding-holes 

 are generally from one to two feet deep. At the end is the nest-chamber, measurino- 

 about two feet in extent, and about half that in width. The birds breed at the end 

 of November, and the young are hatched at the end of December or beg innin g of 

 January. Except in the breeding season, when they may be seen about the island in 

 the early morning and late in the evening, these birds are only met with far out at sea, 

 and at about a hundred miles from land great numbers are sometimes met with at one 

 time. 



Salvin's description of the species is as follows (Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., XXV., 

 p. 397) : — " Very similar to M. cequinoctialis, but smaller ; the bill not nearly so stout, 

 and the entire plumage, including the chin, sooty black. Total length about 18 

 inches ; wing, 13.2 ; central rectrices, 4.3 ; lateral ones, 3.6 ; tarsus, 2.2 ; middle 

 and outer toes, 2.65 ; inner toe, 2.1." 



The description and figure are taken from the type-specimen in the British 

 Museum. 



175 



