
It was concluded that destruction of eggs early in the incuba- 
tion season results in the parents remaining on the island for m 
weeks as unemployed birds. = 
of e ilizati (Flot No. 4).--In 80 nests the 
eggs were sterilized by injecting them with 2 cc. of ethanol. The 
albatrosses continued to incubate them for several weeks after the 
normal hatching date, as indicated in Figure 19. The birds left the 
area when they finally discontinued setting. 
it was concluded that sterilization of eggs will cause the 
birds to continue setting several weeks after the normal hatching date; 
they will leave the vicinity after finally deserting the CfgS. 
ege a tion Jate in incubation (Plot No. 5).-- 
This experiment was conducted in the same manner as the one on Plot No. 
3, except that the eggs were destroyed late in the incubation period. 
Eggs were destroyed at a total of 70 nests between January 8 and January 
31. No eggs were laid in any of these nests after destruction of the 
original egg. The number of birds remaining near their nesting 
territories are shown in Figure 18, 
in 
It can be seen that the birds deserted their nesting terri- 
tories more rapidly than did the birds whose eggs were destroyed early. 
However, as in the latter experiment, the desertion of nesting terri- 
tories did not necessarily mean that the birds had left the island. On 
January 30, a thorough search of the general area revealed 43 marked birds 
from the study plot. 
It was concluded that destruction of eggs late in the season 
results in the parents remaining on the island for several weeks as un- 
employed birds. 
ect the lo new) tched chi (Plot No. 6).-— 
On this area the chicks at 63 nests were removed a few days after 
hatching. The length of time the parents remained in the area is shown 
in Figure 20. It can be seen that the parents remain in the area for 
some time after the loss of their chicks, but do not remain as long as 
birds which have lost their eggs. 
It was concluded that destruction of newly hatched chicks 
results in the parents remaining in the area for a short time as un- 
employed birds. 
Effects of the loss of one mem of each pai ter ha 
(Plot No. 7).--One member each of 16 pairs of Laysan albatrosses was 
killed a few days after their chick hatched. Four of the young birds 
starved to death, three were killed accidentally, and nine survived 
until the end of the observation period (June), being fed by the 
surviving parent. 
35 
