660 THE BIRDS OF LORD HOWE AND NORFOLK ISLANDS, 



In some of the deep watercourses the oak-trees were dwarfed, 

 and threw^ out horizontal branches of great length. From these 

 again sprang short straight shoots, generally in clusters of four 

 or six. These bunches of shoots made admirable supports for 

 the matted nests, and it was possible to reach some of the lower 

 branches from the ground. Having collected the eggs from 

 these, one could ascend and walk along them in order to collect 

 from the next tier of branches. My friend, Mr. Lindsay Buffett, 

 who accompanied me on this expedition, said that my excursions 

 along these branches gathering eggs reminded him of a delighted 

 schoolboy picking apples in an orchard ! 



The colonies do not commence to breed on the same day, as we 

 found nests in course of construction, fresh eggs, and others well 

 advanced in incubation on the same tree."^ The birds were not 

 shy, but generally left the nests when we were within reach, and 

 sidlinty along the branch, uttered the querulous cry which has 

 earned them their local appellation. 



The rapid destruction of the timber on this island, resulting 

 from the herbage being eaten out by the rabbits, is evidenced by 

 the number of fallen oaks, gradually becoming bleached or decay- 

 in^y skeletons. On some of these former homes of the Titeracks 

 a few birds still breed among the dead twigs, and even on the 

 upturned roots. There are also several trees, both White Oaks 

 and Pine trees, on Norfolk Island where the White-capped Noddy 

 breeds. I visited two localities in the vicinity of Steel's Point 

 and Duncombe Bay, but although the birds were roosting there, 

 they had not commenced to build by the middle of November, 

 1908. 



A single egg is laid, of a white, creamy, or warm pinkish 

 ground, more or less spotted or blotched with deep reddish and 

 chocolate-brown, and with purple suffused markings. In some 

 cases the markings are scattered over the whole shell, in others 

 forming a cap at the larger end, and in others again a more or 



* In the season of 1909, fresh and incubated eggs were taken on loth 

 December. 



