A'ESTS AND EGGS OF AVSTRAUAN BIRDS. git; 



Observations. — This Dove Petrel, slightly the largest of the Prions, 

 and easily recognized by its much dilated bill, is found most numerous 

 between the latitudes above mentioned. Gould observed it plentiful 

 in the SoutJi Indian Ocean. He obtained two fine eggs of this bird, 

 which were collected bj' ^lacgillivray on St. Paul Island in that ocean. 



The eggs of the Broad-billed Prion in my collection I received from 

 the late Mr. T. H. Pott«. They were taken on Pitt Island, one of the 

 Cliatham Islands, situated about 450 miles to the eastward of New- 

 Zealand. 



Toucliing the Broad-billed Prion breeding on these islands, 

 Mr. H. H. Travers wTites : " Blue Billy of the settlei-s. It breeds in 

 September, and only one egg is laid. Where the egg is laid in holes 

 in rocks it is placed on the bare rock ; but in the peaty holes a few- 

 leaves are foimd, but whether placed there by this bird or by smaller 

 sea birds which use the same holes for breeding, I cannot say. Both 

 birds take part in incubation. They are not easily disturbed when 

 sitting, pecking at the hand whilst the egg is being taken, but lemaining 

 on the nest after its removal. When taken from the holes they fly 

 away with a wavy, uncertain flight, as if blinded by the sudden light. 

 One mode of getting this and other sea birds is b}' lighting a large fire 

 at night at the foot of a high cliff, against which they dash themselves, 

 or, becoming stupefied, are easily knocked do^vn. In a cave on Pitt 

 Island, w-hich I reached by the aid of a rope, I found a cat, which had 

 eaten the heads of nearly a hundred young birds without the bodies 

 being touched. Many old birds had also been killed by this cat. How 

 it got there I cannot imagine." 



687. — Prion banksi, Gould.— (643) 

 BANKS DOVE PETREL OR PRION. 



Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. xxv., p. 434. 



Previous Description of Eggs. — Campbell : Victorian Naturalist 

 (1888). 



Geograpliirnl Dixfn'hiition. — Seas of South Queensland, New South 

 Wales, Victoria, South and West Australia and Tasmania; also New 

 Zealand and Southern Ocean, usually between 35 deg. and 60 deg. south 

 latitudes ; but as far north as the Equator in the Malay Ai-chipelago. 



Jiest. — A small burrow imdergi-ovuid, on hill sides. 



Egffs. — Clutch, one ; roundish or broad oval in shape ; textui'e of 

 shell compai-atively fine ; siu-face without gloss ; coloxir, pure white. 

 Dimensions in inches: (1) 2-01 x 1-38, (2) 2-0 x 1-4, (3) 1-98 x 1-49, 

 (4) 1-97 X 1-45, (5) 1-97 x 1-42, (6) 1-87 x 1-32. 



