650 THE BIRDS OF LORD HOWE AND NORFOLK ISLANDS, 



petrels. It is known that this species and CE. neglecta var.^ 

 Hutton, are variable species as regards colour. 



An adult and a young bird out of the birds breeding on 

 Mount Gower (Lord Howe Island) were procured by Messrs. 

 Hedley and McOulloch, of the Australian Museum, in September 

 1908. These were identified by Mr. A. J. North as CE. neglecta. 

 The adult bird does not accord with any of the published 

 descriptions of (E. neglecta to which I have had access, the back 

 being bluish-black, the head sooty-brown, breast brown, throat 

 washed darker, feathers surrounding the bill tipped with white^ 

 all feathers white underneath, bill and feet black. 



Mr. Herbert Wilson, of Lord Howe Island, who has frequently 

 observed the local bird breeding, informs me that he never saw 

 it in any but the dark colour. The nest is composed of " cut 

 grass" or small fibrous roots, placed in a chamber at the end of a- 

 burrow, from two to four feet in length, or in a deep crevice in 

 the rocks. In some cases the mass of nest-material is so large,. 

 that the 3'oung bird is almost concealed in it. The parent bird 

 can be attracted to the entrance of the burrow by a *' cooee " 

 from outside; and when molested she bites savagely. The 

 breeding seas:on is during July and August, fairly large numbers 

 frequenting the top and south-western slope of Mount Gower, at 

 an altitude of over 2000 feet above sea-level. Formerly, it is- 

 stated, this bird bred lower down, but the pigs drove them to less 

 accessible situations. 



With regard to the Norfolk Island bird,((Z^. fhillipii) North 

 states* : " This species Dr. Metcalfe informs me is very difficult to 

 procure on account of its nocturnal habits, and is only to be 

 obtained about January, when it resorts to the west side of the 

 Island to breed, depositing a single egg at the end of a burrow 

 in the sandy soil. During a period of ten years he has only 

 obtained two birds and three eggs, one of the latter of which he 

 has kindly forwarded; it is ovoid in form, of a dull white, the 

 surface of the shell having numerous shallow pittings, although 

 smooth to the touch, and presenting a glossy appearance. Length 

 2-14 X 1-16 inches*." 



* Nests and Eggs, p. 4 1 6. 



