NESTS AA'D EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



Hemisphei-e, and ranging up to the ciicumpolar and sub-Arctic regions 

 to breed. 



Jest. — Constructed rather carelessly of grass, moss and fragments 

 of heather, and situated on the gi-ound amongst heather in marshy or 

 uncultivated moorland (Butler). 



Eggs. — Clutch, two ; inclined to be pynionu, or much pointed at one 

 end ; texture of shell somewhat coarse ; .surface slightly glossy ; colour, 

 dull or dark-olive, blotched and spotted, more particularly about the 

 larger end, with umber and dull gi'cyish-black. Dimensions of a proper 

 pair in inches (1) 2-34 x 1-6, (2) 2-27 x 1'53. 



Observations. — This far-northern bird, in migrating southward to 

 winter, amongst other localities reaches Australia and . New Zealand 

 waters. 



The first recorded example for New Zealand was an adult bird shot 

 by Sir- W. Buller on tlie beach at Horowhemia, in the district of 

 Wellington, 30th April, 1864, and presented to the Colonial Museiun. 



In 1883 I placed on record this species as new for Australia. When 

 returning from Tasmania, steaming up Port Phillip Bay, in October of 

 that year, I observed numbers of Richardson Skuas hovering over our 

 wake and near the vessel. Several occasions since, but always in 

 siunmer, I have noticed these bii'ds in the bay. On the 26th November, 

 1892, when returning home from Portarlington, ten or twelve of these 

 dusky-coloured birds were flying around the steamer. As they passed 

 overhead one could see the dark chests and speckled under parts, while 

 the two long narrow plumes or central tail-feathers were vei-y con- 

 spicuous. Some of these birds dipped into the water in the wake of the 

 vessel after the manner of Gulls. 



In the Tasman Sea, dui-ing a passage from Sydney to Hobart, I often 

 noticed birds which I took to be this Skua, therefore they appear to ue 

 more prevalent in Australian watei's than is generally believed. 



Like its great and ferocious cousin — the Southern Skua — it is 

 notorious for robbing other sea birds of their food. 



Henry Seebohm thvis records in " Siberia in Europe " the finding of 

 a nest : " Our most interesting find, however, was the nest, with two 

 eggs, of the Richardson Skua, placed, on a tussock of mossy giound. It 

 was lined witli some reindeer moss and leaves of the surrounding plants. 

 The devices of the birds to deceive us, as we came near it, attracted 

 our attention and revealed its vicinity. Tliey often alighted within 

 fifteen yards of us, shammed lameness and sickness, I'eeled from side to 

 side as if mortally wounded, then when we persisted in oiu- onward 

 course they flew boldly at us, and stopped repeatedly.' 



