PEGASUS—THE GIANT PETREL 103 
I had failed to find the nest. Now at Pegasus 
on all hands we heard of it. Indeed it was 
principally because of the Crow we had fixed our 
headquarters there. 
Every one of the residents knew the breed, 
we were sure of that; for though errors can be 
made in the description of many birds, the Crow 
is unmistakable both in appearance and habits. 
We were certain, therefore, that it bred in that 
part of Stewart Island, and by every open way 
searched for the elusive bird. Of these ways there 
were three—one, the overland route by Table 
Mountain and Paterson Inlet; another, the track 
connecting the settlement with the heights, where 
tunnelling for tin was in progress; and thirdly, 
the harbour itself, its bays and arms and creeks. 
In vain, trembling with hope and fear, we trudged 
the forest from daylight to dark; in vain we 
climbed the Remarkables; in vain we beat 
through the seaside scrub. We never heard. or 
saw the Crow. We never did get the nest. I 
never did have forced on me the fateful alter- 
native of renunciation of the study of the nesting 
habits of this long-sought species, or the for- 
feiture of five berths on the Orient liner Orvieto. 
Had, however, the nest been vouchsafed to us, I 
trust I should have been guided to the proper 
choice, and known where my duty lay. 
