. Atoll research bulletin. Coral reefs and islands; Marine biology; Marine sciences. 151 May 4. In swinging over the sand hills these great birds frequently swing on one side so that the tip of the lower wing marks a thin line in the sand exactly as they do over the waves. In early morning the sand is marked by these lines in all directions. One seen crouching over a last year's egg partly buried in the sand acting as though on a nest. May 5. Along the western side of the lagoon there are a number of young albatross within 30 or 40 feet of the water's edge. The wind, from an easterly direction
. Atoll research bulletin. Coral reefs and islands; Marine biology; Marine sciences. 151 May 4. In swinging over the sand hills these great birds frequently swing on one side so that the tip of the lower wing marks a thin line in the sand exactly as they do over the waves. In early morning the sand is marked by these lines in all directions. One seen crouching over a last year's egg partly buried in the sand acting as though on a nest. May 5. Along the western side of the lagoon there are a number of young albatross within 30 or 40 feet of the water's edge. The wind, from an easterly direction, whips the heavily alkaline water into a foam on the beach which is blown out across the flat. This strikes the young birds who snap at the larger masses, and keeps them continually wet and bedraggled but does not seem to injure them as a number are so large that they are attaining full plumage. When we sit down in the sand it is usual for a pair or two of these albatross to come solemnly up to inspect us. Any new object at the shacks in camp, a water breaker, a box, or pile of rope, is sure to attract the two who have a young on the sand in front and they come walking up to look it over. This afternoon Schlemmer dug a deep hole to bury some bird bodies, throwing up a pile of sand three feet high. One of the birds came over, made appropriate movements and sounds as though it had just located a nest, and then proceeded to climb to the summit and squat down. In the level area near the lagoon which is liable to be flooded the birds build their nests up to a height of six inches or more. The turrets still remain though most of them have no young. Destruction of eggs along hereby flood water was heavy and the eggs entire or broken may be seen in numbers. Almost all of these albatross nest in this inner basin. May 7. A female filled with parental love tried hard to hover her baby two thirds grown, and nearly as large in body as its mother, greatly to the disgust of the youngster. Th
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