672 THE BIRDS OF LORD HOWE AND NORFOLK ISLANDS, 



In diaiensions the eggs vary to a great extent, and the eggs of 

 a clutch are seldom of the same size. 



Dimensions of five selected clutches : — 



(l)a, 2-45 X 1-8; h, 2'6 x 1-85; c, 2-6 x l-74( Admiralty Islet, 

 16th Oct., 1907). 



(2)«, 2-75 X 1-95; 6, 2-85 x l-8(Admiralty Islet, 16th Oct., 

 1907). 



(3)«, 2-5 X 1-84; h, 2o5 x l-8(Phillip Island, 3rd Nov., 1908). 



{i)a, 2-8 x 1-9; 6, 2-6 x l-8(Phillip Island, 3rd Nov., 1908). 



(5)a, 2-6 X 1-8; 6, 2-2 x l-74(Phillip Island, 3rd Nov., 1908). 



(Specimen 6, of clutch 5, was lying outside the nest, addled). 



248(M). 38.FREGATA ARIEL Gould. 



Lesser Frigate Bird. 



Attagen ariel, Etheridge, 'Lord Howe Island,' }>.16. 



Hah. — Lord Howe Island(visitor only). (Australian Seas, 

 Tropical and Sub-Tropical Oceans). 



250(M). 39.PHAETHON ERUBESCENS Rothsch. 



Roseate Red-tailed Tropic Bird; Bosun Bird(L.H.I.); Tropic 

 Bird(N.L). 



Phaeton rubricauda, Bodd.; Crowfoot, p.268; Ramsay, p. 38; 

 North, 'Nests and Eggs,' p. 378; North, ' Lord Howe Island,' p. 

 47; Etheridge, 'Lord Howe Island,' p.l6. 



Rab. — Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands. (Laysan Island, 

 Kermadec Islands). 



This variety of the Tropic Bird is distinguished by a rosy tinge, 

 which fades from the feathers unless kept from the light. It 

 breeds in considerable numbers on the almost inaccessible cliffs 

 of both groups. On the occasion of my visit to Phillip Island 

 (3rd November, 1908), the birds were commencing to select their 

 nesting places. From the top of the Peak I looked down a sheer 

 cliff, 900 feet to the ocean, and saw these magnificent birds in 

 hundreds sailing and wheeling about in their stately manner, 

 with the scarlet tail-feathers streaming behind their glossy white 

 bodies, while they filled the air with their cry of " Honk, Honk," 



