BIRDS OF LAYSAN AND THE LEEWARD ISLANDS. 
791 
frequent trips astern and rapid overhauling again made our cumbersome gait all the more apparent. 
Of course as they neared the turning point each time they had to quarter the breeze a little and for a 
moment sail directly across it. Sometimes at A in the diagram they were obliged to flap rather 
frantically to keep their equilibrium. 
The position in which the wings are held when sailing against or with the wind is quite charac- 
teristic in either case. When coming against the breeze the carjpal segment and primaries are bent 
downward, as if to catch the wind, so that the bird appears as in B; but when the bird turns and 
goes with the breeze the ends of the wings are bent up, as in D. When sailing against the wind they 
often gradually rise, but they are likewise perfectly capable of descending, and when going swiftly 
with the wind they not infrequently, in fact usually, make a long swoop downwards and skim over the 
water, rising a little as they turn to come' to windward. The position of the wings in the two cases 
seems to be constant. In the first case they catch more wind, and the fact that the birds generally 
rise a little shows that the wings act on the same principle as a kite. On the other hand, when sailing 
with the breeze, the position is such as gives less resistance to the wind. The first position (B) is, as 
suggested by Dr. Gilbert, one of great muscular rigidity. 
One is impressed, when watching these birds, with the fact that there is a tremendous amount of 
muscular tension brought into play to preserve an equilibrium. We are told that wind is not a 
constant movement, but is made up of a series of lulls and gusts following each other. With consum- 
mate skill, the soaring bird seems forever balancing itself and taking advantage of these little blasts. 
When there is very little breeze albatrosses are not able to sail far, and during a dead calm they 
progress by a series of flaps and short sails. 
The albatrosses frequently settle on the water, and their actions when so doing are very ludicrous. 
As they are about to alight both feet are sprawled out on either, side, and they strike the water with a 
splash. The wings are held high over their heads till the birds are safely settled, when they are 
folded with extreme care, so as not to become the least wet. 
PROCELLARIID^. 
Puffinus cuneatus. Uau Kane; Wedge-tailecl Shearwater. 
Puffinus cuneatus Salvin, Ibis 1888, p. 353. 
The uau kane is an abundant bird on Laysan, and far and away the form most familiar to persons 
cruising in Hawaiian waters. Although so common on Laysan, Mr. Schlemmer estimates that in 
point of numbers it is second to JEstrelata hypoleuca. The greater number are congregated in a zone 
perhaps 50 yards wide around the lagoon, some distance seaward from the bare flood plain mentioned 
in the narrative. It is surprising how consistently they keep to this locality, as they are rare elsewhere 
on the island. This area is shared with albatrosses, rails, and in places with Sterna lunala, and over- 
laps the wide JEslrelata colonies. The burrows are among tall bushy grass as well as in the open 
among matted j uncus and succulent portulaca. 
