256 ON THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE CLAKEMONT ISLANDS, 



plenty of nests upon the low shrubs on this island. Mr. Magil- 

 livray, quoted by Gould in his " Birds of Australia," is of opinion 

 that the two forms are specifically distinct, and states that he has 

 never seen any exhibiting a change from blue to white, or vice 

 versd, and upon Dugong Island he had seen the young white from 

 the nest. I have seen them in this intermediate state of plumage 

 at the New Hebrides, Solomon Islands, Tonga and elsewhere, and 

 I do not think that the blue are adult birds. 



Silver Gull. ( Bruchigavia Jamesonii wax. Gouldi. Bonap.) Only 

 a pair of these birds were noticed, and they were very vociferous 

 as I approached a certain point of the island, flying to and fro 

 overhead in a very excited manner, as if they had a nest or young 

 close at hand However, a careful search failed to disclose any. 

 At times they came so near that I was able to observe them 

 minutely. They were certainly larger than those to be seen every 

 day in Sydney Harbour, and their beaks were of a dark brownish 

 red, almost black at the tip, but otherwise I could detect no 

 difference. 



Caspian Tern. Sylochelidon Gaspia. Brehm.) A pair seen. 

 Torres Straits Tern. (Thalasseus cristatus. Steph.) Common. 



lAttle Tern ( Sternula nereis. Gould.) Several of these elegant 

 little birds were observed and one shot. They were perfectly 

 fearless and darted down upon their prey within a few yards of the 

 spot upon which I stood. 



Pi'Mca.n (Pelccamis conspiciilatus. Temm.) Only one seen, and 

 a magnificent bird it looked as it sat in solitary grandeur far out 

 on the coral flats, its black and white plumage most conspicuous 

 in the bright sun. I was anxious to obtain it, but it was very 

 wary, and would not permit me to approach within a-half mile of it. 



Little Cormorant (P/ialacrocorax melanoleucus. Vieill.) Many 

 seen flying over the island. 



Amongst the scrub there were honey-eaters, fly catchers, two 

 kinds of kingfishers, and several other species unknown to me ; and 

 from one of the trees I shot a pair of large handsome doves. 



