986 



NESTS AW EGGS OE AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



Port Jacksou, liis attention was attracted by a Gaunet with a darkly- 

 coloured face, wliicli was very conspicuous as the bird flew round the 

 ship, but, to his regret, the bird kept at too great a distance for a 

 successful shot. 



However, subsequently, Gould was indebted to the officers of H.M.S. 

 '■ Fly," under command of Captain Blackwood, for examples of the bird, 

 which were found breeding in considerable numbers on Rainc Island. 

 Ton-es S.rait. 



Mr. F. M. Nobbs, of Norfolk Island, who presented me with the eggs 

 of this species, taken from adjacent islets, 3ays : " I think the Gannet 

 is the clumsiest on the ground of all the birds which frequent this 

 locality, but once it gets on .the wing, it seems one of the proudest. I 

 have often watched them from the whaling boats dai-ting down after 

 their prey. They descend at a wonderfully rapid i-atc, and must go 

 to a considerable depth below the svu'face of the water, for they keep 

 under for a long time. The flying fish seem to be their favoiu-ite food ; 

 but I have never seen a Gannet pursue them while they (the fish) ai'e 

 flying. A young bii-d is of odd appearance, and would make an excellent 

 comic pictm-e of a judge m a wig." 



Both male and female assist in the task of incubation. Laying 

 mouths, November to December, but the season may be said to extend 

 from October to January. At Maiden, in mid-Pacific, the Masked 

 Gannet sometimes lays in March, on the east side of Ihc lagoon there. 



When Professor Moseley, in the " Challenger," visited Raine Island, 

 31st August, 1874. two species of Gaimets, the Brown and the Masked, 

 were nesting on the gi-ound, and especially on a plot of ground quite flat 

 and bare of vegetation, possibly the site of the dwellings of the men 

 employed in erecting the beacon in 1844. 



The Brown Gannet makes a slight nest of gi-een twigs and gi-ass ; 

 the Masked makes a circular hole in the eaa-th, about 1^ inches deep. 



A third species of Gaainet (S. pinratw) has red feet, which 

 at once distinguish it from the others. Professor Moseley saw one or 

 two of theii- nests made in the bushes, like those of the Noddies, raised 

 six inches above the gi-oimd. 



Booby Island, in Torres Strait, which is only two-thirds of a mile 

 in circumference and thirty feet to forty feet in height, would appear to 

 be a remarkable spot for bii'ds. Not only do Boobies and Sooty Terns 

 frequent it in great numbers, but many land bii'ds also. As Professor 

 Moseley pointed out, in his "Notes by a Naturalist." very likely the 

 rock at certain seasons is used as a resting place for birds crossing from 

 New Guinea to tlie ni.Tinlaiid or vice versa. The island is described 

 as liaving a small gully ruauing nearly across it, whicli, afl'ording shade 

 and shelter, allows of the growth of a scrub of a shrub-like species of 

 fig. In addition to this vegetation there is little else, except sc<inty 

 grass and a few herbs. Diu'iug the visit of the " Challenger," 9th 

 September, 1874, the following Ijirds were shot: Su])crb Fniit Pigeon 

 ( I', xii/iirlius). Black-backed Quail (T. moculoxa ), a Landrail, IMei;a])od<' 

 (M. cfi/jjirrfi/i ), Bee Eater f .)/( rnjis). Yellow Wiiitc> Eye ( Ziixtrrdjis 

 hitea), a Thickhead ( I'achijciphola), Sacred Kingfisher ( lltilrijitn ), 

 besides three other species seen. 



