jVESTS and eggs of AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 879 



gloss. Dimensions in inches of two examples from Norfolk Island : 

 1,1) 1-96 X 1-4, (2) 1-94 X 1-36; two from Rat Island, off west coast; 

 ^l; 1-93 X 1-44, (2) 1-9 x 1-4. 



Observations. — This little Petrel is an exceedingly interesting species. 

 G'ould i-ecordcd it for the eastern shores of Australia and New Zealand. 

 I captiu-ed a specimen on the AbroDios Islands, Western Australia ; and 

 since then the Hon. C. Baring and Mr. Ogilvie-Grant fovmd the species 

 breeding as far north as the Sav;vge Islands, between Madeira and the 

 CanarieSj in the Atlantic. 



On my arrival at the Abrolhos, December, 1889, I found the AUied 

 Petrel had finished breeding, but Mr. Gilbert Beddoes had thoughtfully 

 saved for mc specimens of the eggs which were taken dm'ing the fii-st week 

 of July, while his men were quariying for guano on Rat Island. 

 However, I was anxious to obtain one of the same kind of birds that laid 

 there for complete identification. Fortmiately, I took a single specimen 

 which appeared to have remained behind in tlie interests of science, and 

 which I knocked down with my egging crook during a midnight peregii- 

 nation. The birds have been known, attracted by the light, to fall into 

 the fii'es of persons camping upon the islands. 



It has not been previously recorded that these particular birds ai'e 

 noctm-nal. However, most Petrels probably are nocturnal in their 

 habits when they are on or near land, but., singular as it may appear, 

 when at sea they become more dimnal. 



In 1887, from Mr. F. M. Nobbs, I fii'st received the eggs of the AUied 

 Petrel, kindly forwarded from Norfolk Island, where the bird is called 

 the " Watchman," and where the eggs were collected as in Western Aus- 

 tralia, during Julv and about the end of the month. Therefore it seems 

 remarkable that Mr. A. Reischek should have foiuid the same species 

 laying on islands ofi the New Zealand coast in October or November. 

 Surely this bird does not lay two broods in a year! Sir W. BuUer 

 seems to think some Petrels do, and names the Diving Petrel as a 

 possible one ; but the fact, if siich be the case, has not been proved. 



Mr. Reischek infonns us that this little Petrel comes ashore in 

 October to clean out its bm-rows or make fresh ones, which process male 

 and female accomplish together, with then- bills and feet. The entrance 

 is from 4 inches in diameter, and from 3 to 4 feet to the chamber, 

 sometimes in a winding direction. In most cases he foimd two chambers 

 similar in size to those he has already described for other Petrels, and in 

 which there is a hollowed floor, covered with a few leaves and grass, 

 where the female lays, end of October or early in November, one white 

 egg. Both pai'ents assist in hatching and rearing the yoimg. Their 

 habits dui-ing the breeding season are similar to those of the rest of the 

 ProcfUariifhe family. The young birds are full-gi-own m Febniary, 

 when the natives collect them for food ; and they are delicious eating. 

 He saw these birds in considerable numbers dming the breeding season, 

 on the outlying islands off the east coast, especially on the Morotiii 

 Group. 



Gould received two beautiful snow-white eggs of the Allied Petrel 

 from Macgillivray. They were collected on Royal Island (wherever that 

 island is situated), in July, 1854. [? Rossel Island, Louisiades, June, 

 1844.— E. A. P.] 



