Sandager. — 0)1 iJie MokoJiinou Islands. 289 



Lams dovuiiicanus. 



Three or four pairs breed on some of the smaller islets 

 every year. Lays at the end of October, and the yomig leave 

 the nest in February. 



Lams scopallnus. 



Numbers breed here on a rock, but, for some reason or 

 other, only every second year. There is no other breeding- 

 place of theirs in the vicinity. When the Cicadce make their 

 appearance in the early part of summer they are eagerly fol- 

 lowed in their short flights by this little gnll, which may be 

 seen busilj' feeding on them during the whole day for a week 

 or two at a stretch, driving them out of the ngaio bushes 

 and following them inland, or out over the water. 



Sterna frontalis. 



Breeds on the same rock as the preceding, every second 

 year. Lays in October. The young are ready to fly near the 

 middle of January. 



Diomcdca (sp. '!). 



One or two visit the neighbourhood annually, but I have 

 been unable to identify them. The last one I saw was in 

 December, 1888. 



Haladroma ui 'matrix. 



Breeds on three of the smaller, comparatively low, islands, 

 where it forms its burrow in the peat-like substance, consist- 

 ing of light soil and decayed Mesemhryantheimim, with wdiich 

 they are covered. Burrowing commences in April. In July 

 a nest, consisting of dry flax, sticks, and grass, is formed at 

 the end of the burrow, and a few of the earlier birds begin to 

 lay during the last half of the month, but most of the laying 

 takes place during August. The birds, previous to laying, are 

 rarely found in the burrows during the day, all the work of 

 burrowing, &c., being carried on at night. One egg only is 

 laid in each nest. (^olour of egg, white; length, l-5in. ; 

 width, l-25in. 



Puffinus rjaviiis. 



This species never strikes the lantern. The young dej)art, 

 some in the end of December, and the rest in January. 

 Begins to burrow at the same time as the preceding, and does 

 not work at or remain in the burrow during the day, previous 

 to laying. No nesting-material save a few feathers is used, 

 and all the bmTows I examined were short, so that the egg 

 could be easily reached without digging. A single egg is 

 deposited in each nest. Colour of egg, white ; average size of 

 six eggs now before me — length, 2-31in. ; width, l-61in. Lay- 

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