892 



NESTS A.VD EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



Leaving one of oiu' nmuber in camp, three of us start at half-past 7 p.m. 

 for the top of the cape, about a mile from oui- camp, taking our over- 

 coats, egging crooks, and a ' billy ' of tea, &c. In the sultry evening 

 it is vi'arm work trudging upvi^ard through the shoi-t, stiff herbage, 

 tripping now and agani in Mutton Bird holes in the twilight. Just 

 before 8 p.m. a few birds are seen circling swiftly about, and by the 

 time we reach our lialtiug-placo they are numerous, cutting the air in 

 all dnectious, some whizzing past close to our heads. When it is quite 

 dark nearly all the birds have landed and entered their biurow-horaes, 

 where, judging by the noise, warm congiatulations are being exchanged, 

 and, if I mistake not, warm lights arc going on, too, through ijirds 

 entering wrong bui-rows. The hubbub is kept up more or less through- 

 out the night. Many birds appear to sleep on the groimd. Some ;u-e 

 on the vidng all night, judging by the cries. The cry consists of three 

 rapid squeal-hke notes, followed by one note low-pitched, as if the breath 

 were diawn in. The notes are repeated three or four times. 



We get on the lee side of an outcrop of rock and enjoy a nap for 

 two hours. When we awake it is shortly after midnight, and oui- 

 siu-roundings seem utterly sti-ange and weiid. The uudcrgi-omid 

 squeaking and the croaking noise made by the birds are unabated. 

 Far below we liear the wash of the sea on the reefs and foot rocks of 

 the cape. The half-moon is well up, and its Ught, piercing a bank of 

 clouds over the mainland, sheds a silvery sheen across the calm sea. 

 To the left hand is the flash of the distant Cape Schanck light. We 

 walk abroad. Birds scuttle to right and left from underneath the 

 tussocks as we pass along. One or two eggs are picked up on the 

 surface, evidently dropped in a hurry before the birds could reach their 

 nests. The most energetic member of our party commences in the 

 moonlight to rake eggs from the holes. 



At about half-past 3 o'clock, or jitst as daylight is breaking, birds 

 begin to depart to seaward. We take up positions on the edge of the 

 cliff to witness this interesting leave-taking. Birds in ones or twos 

 waddle up, or sneak through the grass hke rats, then, spreading their 

 wings, take a short run and launch over the chff and disappear into the 

 gloom. Some on reaching the cliff pause for a minute or two, then wdth a 

 neat spring off the feet sail away. Others flounder along, striking a 

 tussock or some other obstacle before they get fairly on the vsdng. 

 Tliis performance ceases about 4 o'clock, when all the outgoing birds 

 have departed. There are only left the breeding birds in their burrows, 

 where all is hushed. 



I break my egging crook over a large snake, and so can do no 

 egging. My companions each fill their baskets, and we return to camp 

 to breakfast on fried Mutton Birds' eggs and bacon. 



After five days we brought an enjoyalsle and successful li-ip to a 

 close, having collected between forty and fifty dozen of eggs. 



I have given an illustration of the " pig-fa<!c " weed rookciy on 

 PliilUp Island, Western Port, also a picture of a small rookery on 

 North-east Island, one of the Kent Group. 



