A'ESTS AND EGGS OF AVSTHAtJAN BIRDS. 855 



Nest. — About 6 inches across, slightly concave, constructed of sca- 

 wei d, iJtc., cai'clessly thrown together, so that portions hang downiward 

 for 10 or 12 inches. Situated in the fork or elbow of mangi-ove branches. 

 In colonies. 



Eggs. — Clutch, one ; elliptical in shape ; textiu-e of shell somewhat 

 coarse ; surface without gloss ; colour, soft or wann white, marked on 

 the apex, and sparingly elsewhere, with dark or iiifous-brown and auil 

 puip!ish-gi-ey. Frequently the markings are rendered nearly obsolete 

 by reason of a coating of limy matter. Inside lining of the shell, when 

 iield up to the light, sea-giecn. Dimensions in inches of six selected 

 specimens; (1) 1-84 x 1-26, (2) 1-84 x 1-2, (3) 1-8 x 1-22, (4) 1-75 x 1-19, 

 (5) 1-73 X 1-26, (6) 1-73 x 1-2. (Plate 24.) 



Uhservatimu. — This peaceful little Noddy, besides frequenting the 

 seas on both the east and west of Australia, ranges across the Indian 

 Ocean. 



Pelsart Island, Houtmans AbroUios, Western Australia, is one of 

 theu- breeding places, where they resort in great numbers diH-ing the 

 season, crowding their nests of seaweed on the mangrove trees. 



Respecting this rookeiy, Gilbert wi-ote : " I have seen many vast 

 flocks of birds, but I confess 1 was not at all prepared for the siuprise I 

 experienced in witnessing the amazing clouds, literally speaking, of these 

 bii-ds when congregating in the evening while they had their young to 

 feed. Dui-ing their alternate departure and return with food, they 

 presented a most singular appearance. From their breeding place to 

 the outer reef, beyond the smooth water, the distance is fom- miles, and 

 over this space the numbers constantly passing were in such close aiTay 

 that they foi-med one continuous and unbroken line. After the yomig 

 bu-ds were able to accompany their parents, I obsei-\'ed that they all left 

 the breeding or roosting place in the morning and did not again retiUTi 

 imtil evening, the iirst-comers apparently awaiting the arrival of the 

 last before finally roosting for the night. It is when thus assembled 

 that their immense numbers strike you with astonishment. Even those 

 who have witnessed the vast flights of the Passenger Pigeon, so vividly 

 described by Audubon, can hardly avoid expressing surprise at seeing 

 the multitudes of these birds, which, at simset, move in one dense mass 

 over and around the roosting place, when the noise of the old birds, the 

 quack and the piping whistle of the young ones, ai-e almost deafening. 

 Like its near ally, it commences the task of incubation in December, 

 and lays but a single egg : while sitting on which, or tending its young, it 

 is veiy easilv caught, as it will suffer itself to be taken ofl' the nest rather 

 than quit it. It fonns an excellent article of food, and several hundreds 

 were daily killed diuing our stay on the island. As this bii-d resorts to 

 the upper branches alone, it is seciu'e from the attacks of the lizard, so 

 destructive to the Noddy, the animal not being able to climb the branches 

 with sufiScient facility to capture it; and this may doubtless be one of 

 the causes why it is more numerous than any of the many other birds 

 inhabiting the island." 



