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This species occurs all round our coasts, and resorts in large numbers to the Island of Kapiti, in 
Cook’s Strait, and probably to other islands of similar character, to breed and rear its young. It is 
abundant also in the seas surrounding Tasmania, in Bass’s Strait, and on the south coast of Australia 
generally. Mr. Gould found it breeding on the low islands in Bass’s Strait from September to 
January, and states that in these localities the ground is “ completely intersected by paths and avenues ; 
and so much care is expended by the birds in the formation of these little walks, that every stic an 
stone is removed, and in some instances even the herbage, by which the surface is rendered so neat 
and smooth as to appear more like the work of the human hand than the labour of one of the ow 
animals A considerable portion of the year is occupied in the process of breeding and rearing 
the young, in consequence of its being necessary that their progeny should acquire sufficient vigour to 
resist the raging of that element on which they are destined to dwell, and which I believe they never 
again leave until, by the impulse of nature, they in their turn seek the land for the purpose of reproduc- 
tion. Notwithstanding this care for the preservation of the young, heavy gales of wind destroy them 
in great numbers, hundreds being occasionally found dead on the beach after a storm , and when the 
sudden transition from the quiet of their breeding-place to the turbulence of the ocean, and the gieat 
activity and muscular exertion then required, are taken into consideration, an occurrence of this kind 
will not appear at all surprising. ... Its powers of progression in the deep are truly astonishing ; 
it bounds through this element like the porpoise, and uses its short fin-like wings as well as its feet to 
assist it in its progress; its swimming-powers are in fact so great that it stems the waves of the most 
turbulent seas with the utmost facility, and during the severest gale descends to the bottom, where 
among beautiful beds of coral and forests of sea-weed, it paddles about in search of crustaceans, sma 
fish, and marine vegetables, all of which kinds of food were found in the stomachs of those I dissected. 
I once had a live one in my possession for a considerable time ; and although very savage w en 
first taken, severely punishing the captor’s hands with its beak, it soon became quite tame, and ex i- 
bited, for such a bird, a remarkable degree of intelligence. 
On land its mode of progression is very ungainly, and it frequently topples over when attempting 
to run. Its usual attitude is an upright one, but it sometimes crouches low, with its breast nearly 
touching the ground. The sea, however, is its natural abode; and on observing its movements 
there it is at once manifest that the flippers are intended to perform the office of fins, or paddles, 
for propelling the body through the water. On the surface it swims low and in a rather clumsy 
fashion ; but the moment it dives under it trails its legs behind like a bird on the wing, and using 
its flippers in the manner indicated, glides forward with the same ease and freedom that the Sea 
Gull cleaves the air above it. In clear deep water I have watched its graceful evolutions wit 
considerable interest ; and I have been astonished at the length of time the bird could remain ® 
before rising to the surface to breathe. Whether it is nocturnal in its habits I am unable to say ; but 
I am inclined to think not, inasmuch as my captive bird seemed to be far less active after dar 
than during the day, and when disturbed appeared to stumble about in a very blind manner. 
It makes a loud croaking noise ; and where large companies are breeding together they appear 
to keep up a constant angry altercation. The eggs, which are usually two in number, are deposited in 
a shallow artificial burrow or in a natural crevice among the rocks. Occasionally, however, these 
burrows are of considerable depth ; and Keischek informs me that he traced one under the root o a 
tree, at Dusky Sound, for a distance of 12 feet. He also found the nests (often carefully lined wit 
leaves and grass) more than a mile from the sea-shore. Sometimes three or four birds aie oun 
associated ; and it is said that the sexes assist each other in the labour of incubation. The eggs are 
of a very rounded form, measuring 2’2 inches in length by 1’7 in breadth, greenish white origina y, 
but always much soiled or stained by the bird, and often smeared with a white chalky substance. 
