656 THE BIRDS OF LORD HOWE AND NORFOLK ISLANDS, 



suffused purplish colour, appearing as if beneath the shell, and 

 scattered red spots overlyin» them. Many are spirally streaked 

 with rich carmine, while others have caps of almost black 

 blotches. 



The following are the dimensions of some normal, and some 

 remarkable divergences from the normal, eggs in my collection — 

 (1)2 X 1-4; (2)2-39 X 1-4; (3)1-8 x 1-35; (4)1-7 x 1-4; (5)1 45 x 1-06; 

 (6)1 X 0-84; (7)2-1 x 1-4; (8)1-9 x 1-5; (9)2-55 x l-3(pyriform); (10) 

 1-46 X 1. 



132(M). 17.Procelsterna cinerea Gould. 



Grey Noddy; Blue Billy(L.H.l.); Patro(N.I.). 



Procelsterna albivitta Gould, p. 420. 



Anous ciner^eus, Crowfoot, p. 265; Ramsay, p. 38; North, 'Nests 

 and Eggs,' p.376; North, 'Lord Howe Island,' p.46; Etheridge, 

 p. 1 5. 



Procelsterna cinerea, Cat. Birds Eggs, B.M., i., p.l97(l90l). 



Hab. — Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands. (N. and E. Australia, 

 New Zealand to San Ambrose Islands, S.W. America). 



This beautiful little Tern breeds in both groups of islands. At 

 Lord Howe it selects crevices and ledges in the precipitous cliffs 

 on the north eastern side of the main island, and similar places 

 on the Admiralty Islets. The nests are generally very difficult 

 of access. In the Norfolk group it breeds chiefly on Nepean and 

 Phillip Islands, and on the former the nests are comparatively 

 easy of access, being placed in crevices of the weathered volcanic 

 rock from a few feet to a considerable height from the water- 

 line. Owing to the horizontal position of the strata, and the 

 weathering having formed sloping terraces, the cliffs are not 

 difficult to scale, although the sharp, worn edges and points of 

 rock are unpleasant to hands and knees. 



The breeding season commences about the middle of September 

 at Lord Howe Island and a little later at Norfolk Island, and 

 extends over the three following months. The birds do not 

 breed in colonies, but certain spots or localities are more favoured 

 than others. The bird is, however, by no means common ia 

 either group. 



