XESTS AND EGG^i OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 927 



a bi-oad band of brownisli freckles roiuul the laiger cud. Dimensioiis 

 in inches: (1) 4-3 x 2-75, (2) 4-0 x 2-7. 



Observations. — The Black-browed Albatross or Molly Hawk of the 

 sailors is regarded as the commonest of the Australian species, and 

 frequents the Southern seas, straying occiisionally to the North Atlantic. 

 It is a somewhat remarkable fact that an individual was known to 

 remain for more than thirty yeai's in company with Gannets at 

 IMvggcnaes Holm, Faroe Islands. An account in detail, by Mr. Kund 

 Andersen, of the occurrence of tliis solitary bird so far north was pub- 

 lislied in the Proceedings of the Roval Physical Society of Echnburgh 

 (1895). 



Having crossed the Great Australian Bight one equinox (Spi'ing, 

 1889), I can bear testimony to Gould's tnithful picture : " In heavy, 

 black, and lowering weather, the snowj'-white plumage of this bird 

 offers a striking contrast to the murky clouds above and behind it." 

 During my own passage, Albatros,ses of several kinds were niunerous 

 in the Bight. I noticed on my return journey in January following that 

 the birds were absent. This raised my curiosity, and I got my good 

 friend. Captain Anthon (so well known for many years to all inter- 

 colonial travellers by sea), to " log " the number each month of Alba- 

 trosses he noticed in the Bight. The. following is the result for one 

 year (1893): — 



It is obvious that the laying season regulates the nimibers of birds 

 abroad, for it will be seen a decrease takes place duiing the first laying 

 month (November), and when the incubating season is at its height, 

 during the three following months, the birds are absent altogether. 



Tlie Black-browed Albatrosses are reported to breed on Aflckland, 

 Campbell, Antipodes, and Boimty Islands, south of New Zealand. 



We leaiTi from Sir Walter Buller that Mr. W. Dougall visited some 

 of these islands principally with a view of obtaining photogi'aphs of 

 the wild and romantic out-of-the-way places, as well as of the remarkable 

 scenes of bird-life, and was successful. As Sir Walter has done, 

 I cannot do better than quote a portion of Mr. Dougall's own interest- 

 ing stoiy regarding the nesting habits of the Black-browed Albatross : 

 " At Campbell Island I ascend one of the liighest hills. Mount Honey 

 (1866 feet), amidst hundreds of nests of the Albatross, siu-rounded by 

 notliing save the unvarying tussock, fern, and tea-tree scrub. We come 

 to the fii-st Albatross, set about 800 feet above sea-level, and after 

 reaching the crown of the hill, 1,000 feet, found them sitting in their 

 nests and flying about close to the ground in hundreds. Tlie Albatross 

 apparently lays but one egg each year, Init one of the party found two 

 nests containing each two eggs. All up the sides of the hill wild parsley 

 was growing luxuriantly, often two feet high, while everlasting daisies 



