227 
D-Entrecasteanx-s Channel, Tasmania, he found thousands of these birds sitting together on the 
water, and feeding on the blubber and other refuse of the whabystation. 
Some years ago a number of them actually followed the floating carcase of a whale 
harbour of Akaroa, and when discovered were engaged in tearing off the blubber . 
It is easily caught with a hook and line, the former baited with meat The bird mbbles at he 
bait and is caught by the hook entering the upper mandible and is torthwith drawn in n m .1 e 
Albatros it is unable to rise from a level surface; and although more active on its feet, habitually 
falls forward, resting on its breast. v, OvacTtiardsl 
The following account of this Petrel (called Quebranta-huesos, or Break-bones, by the Spaniar 
is given in Darwin’s ‘ Voyage of a Naturalist ’ (p. 287) In its habits and manner 
a very close resemblance with the Albatros; and, as with the Albatros, a person may watch it 
hours' together without seeing on what it feeds. The ‘ Br«ik.bones ’ 
for it was observed by some of the ofBcers at Port St. Antonio chasing ‘ ^ 
by diving and flying, but was continually struck down, and at last killed by a blow on its head. 
Port St Julian these great Petrels were seen killing and devouring young us. 
1 may add that on one occasion, when steaming up Cook’s Stiuit I observed at "e ^ o 
these Giant Petrels pursue and capture a small bird (apparently Pnm turtur), and then, holding 
bv tbe wins, batter it against tbe water till it was killed. 
' ThL bM is habitually silent, except when fighting or when voiding xts natural ex— 
which occasions it utters a grunting note. It is more dra«^^el^h^oLer about in 
and rival males when in conflict make a clashing noise with their i s, an s, 
a most unmerciful manner. _ -j 
Sometimes, when impelkd by extreme hunger, “ J rcum":t 
“reft: Wa^ra^id“ crew'of'.he -Hnia,” cameinto Mr. Drew’s po^ession, and 
when I afterwards saw one of them in his garden it had become quite tame and '>'>«>'>■ Aim 
about with open bill and outstretched wings asking to be fed. It allowe me 
impunity, making no attempt to^bit. « “ " “holfn" 
Iherw sttrL7iLlTo7the ground and worked it violently in its eiferts to accommodate another 
Ite "y enongh, it would not touch flsh of any kind. Althoug^ by way of ex,mnmenk 
starved for several days, it still obstinately " ^ cTc’asrXu became 
died and had been skinned, the survivoi le^aled itse y 
decomposed. • n oria in tbo cliffs of the Prince-Edward Islands and 
Professor Hutton states that this species breeds m the chits the ir ^ 
ir 1 n’« Tnnd and adds' “ When a person approaches the nest the old bud p 
Kerguelen s Land, and adds . P smelling oil out of their mouths to a distance 
distance away, while the young ones squirt a horridly sm g ,5 th 
of six or eight feet.” Layard desoiibcs the eggs as being white, and measnimg 
^ ThmeTs17egg in the Otago Museum from Macquarie Island, ^^Aopicd in fam^« 
3-76 inches in len^h by 2-25 in breadth; the shell has a very ’’“"f 
white, is much s Jned and discoloured. Another specimen (from the 
Crowley’s collection is more elliptical in form, measuring S-6 inches in length by 2 6 in 
, , 1 , i P^nnf- Pplrel here, for some -weeks 
* Writing from Portland Island, Mr. Eobson says : “We have a num ers o riid albino as white as snow 
„„t, t Jai.g 0» the roosin. et . a.«i whale. Amongst them, till very re.e.tly, the™ wa. a spl.nM .H>™ ■» 
I tried hard to shoot for your collection, but unfortunately without success. 2 G 2 
