C.y, NESTS AND EGGS OF AVSTnALTAN BIRDS. 



2\i'e!if. — Comparatively large, composed of seaweeds of various kinds 

 and colours, saltbusli. &c., and terraced in colonies on naked rocks near 

 the sea-shore. Dimensions of an average-sized nest — 18 inches over 

 all by 3 or 4 inches in height; egg cavity, 8 to 9 inches across by 2 A 

 inches deep. 



Egffs. — Clutch, two to three ; long oval in shape ; texture of shell 

 coarse ; surface without gloss ; colour, greenish or bhiish-white, unevenly 

 coated with lime, which becomes more or less soiled with the dirt of 

 the nest. Dimensions in inches of proper clutches: A (1) 2-5 x 1-43, 

 (2) 2-5 X 1-4, (3) 2-47 X 1-35; B (1) 2-2.5 x 1-36, (2) 2-22 x 1-35 ; 

 C (1) 2-18 X 1-48, (2) 2-16 X 1-49. 



Ohservations. — The home of this fine Connorant is Tasmania and 

 Bass Strait, but it probably wanders more or less along the whole of 

 the eastern and southern coasts of the mainland. 



The \^Tiite-breast.ed Cormorant is an exceedingly showy bird, and 

 in its black and white garb much resembles the Pied. However, the 

 White-breasted is a much finer built bird, with the naked skin at the 

 base of the bill and round the eye purple, whereas the same parts in 

 the Pied are bright-orange. 



During the visit of an expedition from the Field Naturalists' Club 

 of Victoria to the Fumcaux Group, 1893, a rookei7 of these Cormorants 

 on Storehouse Island, off Flinders Island, was visited. It was the day 

 after oiu' interesting visit tO' the Gannct rookery. We were turned out 

 earlier than we expected, at 3 o'clock in the morning, from our snug 

 little cove under Babel Island. The wind had changed and was blowing 

 straight in, so there was nothing for it but to kedge the boat out far 

 enough to get an offing, and make sail for Storehouse Island. We 

 anchored within a hundred yards of the Cormorant Rookery, 

 and wore much interested watching the movements of the crowd of 

 birds, while we enjoyed our breakfast. Having landed, we approached 

 the rookery carefully for fear of disturbing the Cormorants before we 

 had an opportunity of taking a successful photograph. It was evident 

 from their uneasy movements they did not intend to remain for pictures 

 as the Gannets did on the previous day. Mr. H. P. C. Ashworth and 

 I took oiu- pictiu-es in turns, getting nearer to the birds each time. The 

 illustration given was the last one taken before the birds rose and 

 cleared out to sea. 



An examination of the rookery .showed that between 300 and 400 

 nests were situated or terraced close to each other upon naked granite 

 boulders by the shore, which were well " white-washed." As the season 

 (21st November) was somewhat advanced, the majority of the nests, 

 which were about two or throe feet apart, were mostly occupied by 

 fledgelings in black down, a little mouldy white on the underneath parts. 

 The newly-hatched young were quite naked ; however, some of the 

 nests contained eggs, one, two, or three, but generally a pair, and some 

 were quite fresh Our invasion had caused some of the older young 

 to huddle together in bunches of about six or eight. Our loader 

 remarked that when the old ones returned they would probMl>ly 

 experience some difficulty in "sorting out'' (heir own. 



