The Holbrook news., 1910-02-18
BIRD PARADISE IN PACIFIC
Lnysan Island Nesting Place of Al-
 batross, FriGntes and PetreIs.

Lnysan Island Nesting Place of AL
 bntrOss, FriEntes nnd PetreIs.
 To the northwest of the Hawaiian Islands, about an equal distance from the shores of Asia and America, there IS 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 is what might be called yeritable bird paradise. This is the island of Laysan.
 Laysan measures about five and a half kilos by four kilos and possesses no vegetation save a few thickets and occasional seaweed, and now and then sfclkly little palm tree. Upon the anks are to be found large quantities driftwood, brought from the shores
 America by the currents.
 But the number of birds that come
 ere at the season of nesting exceeds
 widest imagination. There are
 aces on the island where it would be
 possible to put the foot without
 ushing bird, nest or an egg. Ap-
 .rently, to the eye, there are hun
 eds of thousands of birds. There
 albatross. white and brown. petrels
 Id frigates in innumerable colonies,
 It distinct.
 The albatross of Laysan are of two
 nds, the white and the brown. the
 os Angeles Times says. The latter
 ve chiefly in the southern part of e island. They are. moreover, fewer
 number than their white cousins. he two kinds unite in colonies, which e always distinctly separate, how yer. Their nests are almost identical, imple little mounds of earth with ole in the middle. The female here iys solitary egg. The parents pro- ide for the nourishment of the young ntil the latter is able to go to the ca and hunt for himself.
 The albatross are good neighbors mong themselves, but they show a ecided repugnance to living in the icinity of the frigates. These big irds. so remarkable for their swift ess in flight, are great gluttons. All hose who travel in the South seas now with what obstinacy they keep D with the speed of the vessel in ..ope of getting food.
 The frigates are also to be found in Drodiglous numbers at LaySan and bout the neighboring islets. The males. with their brilliantly colored plumage, are beautiful birds, and there is nothing more curious than to ob- serve the naughty air which they as- sume on account of their beauty. The frigate Is neither a born swimmer nor a diver. This, however, is compensat- ed for by his extraordinary power in flight
 The petrels are very numerous in Laysan. They show a preference for the crevices of the rocks during the day. They are in fact birds of night habits and avoid the bright lights. But when the tempest breaks forth and the wind rages they mingle their cries with the noise of the clements. The fish and other marine animals which at such times come to the sur face 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 capturing their abandoned young The elton is among the remarkable kinds of seagulls. Citons are noisy squalling, quarrelsome birds whose principal occupation is keeping up in cessant cries to disturb the repose of the other occupants of the island.