Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-20
BIRD PARADISE IN PACIFIC.
Laysan Island Nesting Place Of Al
batross, Frigates and Petrels.

From the Los Angeles Times.
To the northwest of the Hawaiian IL
lands. about an equal distance from the
shores of Asia and America. sthere is Q
small group of islands and cliffs upon
which hundreds of thousands of birds
live. Every year they lay their eggs and
raise their young. Among small strips OF
land and rock there lis what might be
called a veritable bird paradise. This 10
the Island OF Laysan.
Laysan measures about five and a half
kilos by four kilos. and possesses no vege.
tatIon save a few thickets and occasional
seaweed. and now and then a sickly little
palm tree. Upon the banks are TO be
found large quantities of driftwood,
brought from the shores Of America by
the currents. .--..--
But the number OF birds that come there
at the season Of nesting exceeds the wild
est imagination. There are places on ths
island where IL would be impossible To
put the foot without crushing a bird, IL
nest or an egg. Apparently, to the eye,
there are hundreds of thousands OF birds.
There are albatross, white and brown;
petrels and frigates in innumerable colo
MES, but distinct.
The albatross of Laysan are of two
kinds, the white and the brown. The lat
ter live chiefly in the southern part of the
island. They are. moreover. fewer I'm
number than their white cousins The
two kinds unite in colonies. which are al
ways distinctly separate, however. Their
nests are almost identical, simple little
mounds of earth with a hole in the mid
die. The female here lays a solitary egg.
Inc parents provide for the nourishment
of the young until the latter is able TO
go to the sea and hunt for himself.
The albatrOss are good neighbors among
themselves. but they show decided re-
pugnance TO living In the vicinity OF the
frigates. These big birds. so remarkable
for their swiftness Ira flight, are great
gluttOns. All those who travel in the
South seas know with what obstinacy
they keep up with the speed OF the vessel
In hope OF getting food.
The frigateS are also 10 De 1ound In
prodigious numbers at Laysan and about
the neighboring islets. The males. with
their brilliantly colored plumage, are
beautiful birds, and there Is nothing more
curious than to observe the naughty air
which they assume on account OF their
beauty The frigate Is neither a born
swimmer nor diver. This. however, is
compensated for by his extraordinary
power I'm flight.
The petrels are very numerous I'm Lay
san. They show a preference for the
creyices of the rocks during the day. They
are, In fact, birds of night habits AMI
avoid the bright lights. But when the
tempest breaks forth and the wind RACES
they mingle their cries with the noise OK
the elements. The fish and other marine
animals which at such times come TO TIE
surface are chased by the petrels and
seized from the crest OF the waves The
frigates who are watching the petrels in
the chase, seize this moment for captur-
ing their abandoned young. The oiton IL
among the remarkable kinds Of seaguls.
Citons are noisy. squaling, quarrelsome
birds whose principal occupation Is keep
ing up incessant cries to disturb the re-
pose Of the other occupants OF the island.