NESTS AND EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 80 1 



clutches, while some feathered youug were captiu-ed. November, 1893, 

 we visited another colony of breeding Silver Gulls on the Samphire 

 River reef, Franklin Soimd, Funioaux Group. Twenty-one nests were 

 placed on the ground, amongst short herbage, at various distances from 

 each other, the nearest being about tlurty-four or thirty-five inches 

 apart. It may be worth while noting here that on the outskirts of this 

 rookery we foiuid a pair of Oyster Catcher's eggs. 



Gould found a colony of Silver Gulls on Great Actaeon Island, 

 D'Entrecasteaux Cliannel, Tasmania, when he visited that place in 1838. 

 Doubtless, a similar colony still exists there, for more recently (1887) 

 Colonel Legge noted one on the south point. But it is strange that 

 such a careful observer as Gould should state that this Gull lays four 

 or five eggs. On no occasion have I obsei-\'ed more than three to a 

 nest. 



On Albatross Rock, off the north-west corner of Tasmania, Messrs. 

 Dudley Le Souef and H. P. C. Ashworth, November, 1894, observed a 

 fair-sized company of these Gu.lls, breeding on a shelving rocky head- 

 land, where short tussock grass gi'ew in patches in clefts of the rocks. 

 The nests were placed amongst this vegetation, each containing two 

 or three eggs or young, chiefly the former number. As the flock of old 

 birds was hovering over the spot in a soUcitous manner, Mr. Le Souef 

 took an excellent photograph, which he has kindly permitted me to 

 reproduce. 



Tlie pretty Silver Gull is a rare thief. I recollect when on the 

 AbroDios Islands, Western Au.straUa, witnessing their plundering the 

 Noddy Terns of theu' eggs (by the way, the very occupation I was 

 engaged in myself), especially if nearly incubated. Tlie Gulls also rob 

 these peaceful bu'ds after the Noddies have returned from a fishing 

 cruise, when the contents of their stomachs are just " dished " on the 

 edge of the nest for their mates or young. 



The breeding season for the Silver Gull includes the months from 

 September to December. 



Silver Sea Gulls always arrest attention with their comely forms and 

 buoyant flight, and by being associated with our inter-colonial sea 

 voyages. Tliey will hover right over the taffrail of the travelhng 

 steamer m hopes of some morsels being tlu-own overboard. Presently 

 the watcher observes a noisy bunch of graceful white forms, varied with 

 black splashed pinions, and extended blood-red legs, left astern, dis- 

 puting for a half-eaten fowl from the saloon table that an imthrifty 

 steward has heaved over the side. 



The dimensions in inches of the Silver Gull are — total length, 17i 

 inches; wing, 13 inches; tail, 5 inches; bill. If inches. The sexes axe 

 exactly alike. 



Gulls are lovers of the sea shore rather than of open ocean. Not 

 only does the beautiful Silver Gull love the sea shores, but it also 

 ventures far up rivers, and sometimes reaches lakes in the interioi-. In 

 winter, generally when stonny weather prevails in the bay and outside 

 the Heads, hundi-eds of the silverj'-plumaged Giills make their way up 

 the Yan-a amongst the shipping, wi-angUng in knots here and there 

 over refuse floating down stream. At the wharf I watch a person 



