Wilson’s petrel. 
147 
They were easily caught when the stones were rolled aside ; 
but they were in couples, merely preparing for laying, and 
therefore we did not find any eggs. On our way back to 
Observatory Bay, after the ‘ Transit,’ we called at the American 
Station, and w’ere informed by Dr. Kidder that he had observed 
this Petrel on the shore near Molloy Point. Ihe sea-shore 
in the neighbourhood 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. Ihe country 
in general about our bay afforded them unlimited accom- 
modation. 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 pro- 
bable that the 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 
nests 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 ascertained 
L 2 
