Going up to his mate, with much graceful arching of his neck, he appeared to assure her in guttural tones of his readiness to take charge (Fig. 55). At this she would become very agitated, replying with raucous staccato notes, and refusing to budge from her position on the eggs. Then both would become angry for a while, arguing in a very heated manner, until at last she would rise, and, standing by the side of the nest, allow him to walk on to it, which he immediately did, and after carefully placing the eggs in position, sink down upon them, afterwards thrusting his bill beneath his breast to push them gently into a comfortable position. After staying by him for a little while, the other at length would go off to bathe and feed. [Illustration: Fig. 56. "The Chicks began to appear" (A Typical Group of Nests)] [Illustration: Fig. 57. An Adélie being Sick (Page 94)] The length of time during which each bird was away varied considerably, but a "watch bill" was kept of one particular pair with the following result:(5) (5) This "watch-bill" was kindly kept for me by Mr. Priestly on his meteorological rounds, the nests being near the thermometer screen. Nov. 14. Egg laid. Hen sitting. Nov. 27. A cock seen to join the hen for the first time since the 14th. He took her place on the nest. This was the first day on which any red guano was seen about the nest. Dec. 10. The hen returned between 8 P.M. and 10 P.M., having been absent since November 27. Fresh red guano: the first for many days. Dec. 14. The cock relieved the hen between 8 A.M. and 10 A.M. Dec. 15. The hen relieved the cock between 8 A.M. and 10 A.M. Between 6 P.M. and 8 P.M. the chick was hatched, the hen remaining on the nest. Dec. 17. At 8 A.M. the cock was found to have relieved the hen. Dec. 18. Hen mounted guard between 6 P.M. and 8 P.M. Dec. 20. Cock relieved guard about 8 A.M. At 8 P.M. both cock and hen were at the nest, the hen standing by it, the cock on it. Dec. 21. The hen relieved guard at 8 P.M. Dec. 23. Cock came back at noon and relieved guard. Dec. 24. The cock remained on guard all day. The hen was gone from 1 P.M. till 6 P.M., when she returned and relieved guard. Dec. 25. 8 A.M. Both at nest, hen still on. 10 A.M. changed guard. Hen gone. Dec. 26. Hen on nest. Cock standing near. Dec. 27. 8 A.M. Cock on nest. Dec. 28. 8 A.M. Hen on nest. Dec. 29. Cock relieved guard. Dec. 30. Hen arrived 3 P.M. and relieved guard. Dec. 31. 10 P.M. to midnight, changed, cock on. Both there at 10 P.M. Jan. 1. 10 A.M. Both at nest. 12 noon. Both at nest. The youngster complicating matters by running away every time he was passed by the observer, thus getting himself and his parents embroiled with the neighbours. Jan. 1. 2 P.M. Hen on nest. Cock gone. Jan. 2. 10 A.M. Hen on nest. 12 noon. Chick disappeared. 2 P.M. Nest deserted. 4 P.M. Cock on nest. No chick. 8 P.M. Cock on nest. No chick. Jan. 3. Cock on the nest with the chick.