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PROM The VIIPUBLISIISD' SPACES ACCOU2TES 01? A. WSTIOIQ 
l-.xUS (l ,e , pacf ichs - 1130) 
Pillion Island, dime 11-16. 1923 : In a. few places on the slopes where earth has 
collected the shearwaters have dug their usual harrows sometimes three or four 
feet long hut ordinarily merely in far enough to furnish shelter, 31sewhere 
the birds have sought little natural cavities in the rock or have gone in under 
overhanging ledges. Many, fully, half in fact, have simply loud their eggs at 
random in little hollows or depressions beneath the bushes. The eggs are large 
and white in color and in general appearance are closely similar to those of the domest: 
fowl. - 
« 
The shearwaters themselves are more quiet now than earlier in the season. Occasional 
groups are still mating and fight and squall as elsewhere and newcomers are prospecting 
for nest sites. It is not unusual to wake up in the night to find one resting on 
my legs as I lie in bed under the overhanging rock-. -. 
When incubating they often exhibit a tendency towards secretiveness and crouch 
with head extended and eyes partly closed. One held this position for nearly an 
entire day. This same individual seemed to have a poor sense of location. During the 
second night of our stay another shearwater laid a few feet from the one under 
discussion who when she came in from the sea seemed undecided as to which egg to claim 
and waddled from one to the other several times finally locating on the wrong one. 
bird 
- When one passes too near another incubating bird the latter immediately 
voices his indignation in now low voice and seizes the intruder by the neareast 
part of his person. The eggs cooked are very good eating. 
Many circle overhead during the entire day but are most active moaning and 
cooing when the air is filled with them. Parties often rest on the water 
and occasionally a raft containing several thousand individuals may gather. 
Wastage in their eggs is tremendous. Some females apparently lay at random 
and it would seem do not return to their eggs. Pinches destroy quantities of 
eggs left thus unprotected and I see hundreds of broken eggs. Males share in 
incubation, dll three taken from eggs one has been a 
male . 
