836 



NESTS AXD EGGS OF AVSTFALIAN BIRDS. 



grey, some of the brownish markings being softened at the edges into 

 a paler tint, as if smudged wlicn moist. When lield vip to the hght the 

 inside lining of the shell appears yellowish-green. Dimensions in inches 

 of selected specimens: (1) 2 15x1-55, (2, with spotted markings) 

 2-15 X 1-44, (3) 2-06 x 1-45. (4, lai-ge blotches on apex) 2-0 x 1-46. 

 (Plate 24.) 



Ohservatiom. — This interesting Crested Teni is a medium-sized species, 

 and enjoys a range extending throughout the inter-tropical seas of the 

 Eastern Hemisphere. 



It was first reported from Australia, by Gilbert, who procured two 

 examples at Port Essington, where he stated (according to Gould) that 

 the bird was numerous on all the sandy points of the harbom- as well as 

 all around the coast and on the neighbouring islands. Gilbert was 

 infoi-med that the Lesser Crested Tern bred on the sandy islands during 

 the months of April and May. 



It has been shot as far soiith on the west coast of Australia as North- 

 west Cape. 



Mr. H. Barnard found these Terns nesting as closely as the birds 

 could sit, on a sandy rock about twenty yards across, on the Great 

 Barrier Reef, about forty miles off the North Queensland coast. 



The ezs.3 in my collection, taken by him, bear the date 23rd 



^SS" 



November, 1891. The following are Mr. Barnard's field obsei-A-ations, 

 which appeared in the " Victorian Naturalist," May, 1892 : — " I stopped 

 at the reef till the afternoon, when, as one of the boats was returning, 

 I went with it, and in about half an hour we again sighted the sand bank. 

 As we neared it I could see the birds flying about in thousands. We 

 ran the boat right on to the sand and jumped out into the water, wliich 

 was about two feet deep. The birds rose and ciixled overhead as we 

 landed. I had three shots, bringing down a bird each time, when the 

 rest took their departure and I was not able to obtain a fourth. The 

 eggs were lying on the sand in hundreds — I may say thousands, for in 

 one place I noticed a heap about eight inclies deep, and in another they 

 wore laid as closely together as the birds could sit, for more than six 

 feet square. The bank was not more than twenty yards across and about 

 three feet above high-water mark. The Terns were the same species 

 we saw breeding on one of the North Barnard Islands. I only stayed 

 on the bank about half an hour, as the men were anxious to get .away. 

 We reached the island about one o'clock the sameynight, and I employed 

 the next morning in skinning the birds and blowing the eggs. Owing 

 to the want of a boat I was as much handicapped on this island as we 

 were on the North Barnard, so I employed the time in searching for 

 insects, of which there were very few." 



When Mr. James Walker, R. N., visited Adele Island, North-west 

 Australia, 2nd May, 189], he obson'cd a spot comparatively open and 

 bare of vegetation that was a breeding place of the Stenia metlin. He 

 was much too late for the, eggs of this bird, as the young ones, in a 

 prettily spotted stage of plumage, wore as large as their parents, though 

 as yet vinable to fly, and cleared out of his way likJ so many ducklings. 



