NESTS A. YD EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. qSq 



a dull-white limy coatiug (more or less soiled with dirt) obsciues 

 a bluish-white shell. Size vai-iable. Dimensions in inches (large 

 example) : 2-62 x 1-74 ; small example : 2-3 x 1-47. 



Observations. — As far as Australia is concerned, this Gaiinet has only 

 been observed in the seas of the northern coast. 



Gould gives an interesting extract from Macgilhvray regai'ding this 

 species of Booby in ToiTes Strait, who says : " I foimd it breeding only 

 upon Bramble Quay, although I once, on Raines Islet, found a solitary 

 egg. The nest is slovenly made, of dried herbage, a foot in diameter, 

 with scarcely any cavity, and contains two eggs, of which, m every 

 instance, one was clean and the other very dirty. The eggs, which are 

 white, vaiT considei-ably in size. Tlie largest measvu'cd 2'1 inches by 

 l,'.j inches; the smallest, 2^*^ inches by It J inches, and one of average 

 size, 2i inches by 1 J inches. Both sexes incubate ; and the birds, while 

 sitting on their eggs, allowed of a very near approach, and before flying 

 off disgorged the contents of their stomachs, chiefly a species of Clujjea. 

 I need scarcely add that their bite is very severe. Dming our visit to 

 Darnley Island, I observed several tame Boobies among the native 

 villages, generally perched on the canoes hauled up on the beach. These 

 birds were allowed their full liberty, and after fishing in the weirs upon 

 the reefs until thev had procured a sufficiency of food, returned to the 

 huts." 



The members of the " Chevert " Expedition also found this bird 

 breeding in great numbei-s on Bramble Quay, 1875. 



Laying months, November and December. 



On Maiden Island this Gannet is common, nesting upon the small 

 islands in the lagoon. They have also been found breeding in the 

 Northern Tropics in April. 



Colonel Legge observes that the nestling of the Brown Gannet is 

 covered with brownish down, darker on the back than on the chest ; 

 but when fii'st hatched the young is quite naked. 



FAMILY— FREGATID^ : FRIGATE BIRDS. 



730. — Frf.g.\t.\ aquila, Linnaeus. — (658) 

 FRIGATE BIRD. 



Figure. — Audubon : Birds of America, vol. vii., pi. 421. 



Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. xxvi., p. 443. 



Previous Descriftions of Eggs. — Lerjge : Birds of Ceylon, p. 1205 

 (1880) ; Campbell : Southern Science Record (1883). 



Geographical Distribution. — Seas of Northern Territory, North 

 Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria, (accidental) ; also New 

 Zealand, New Guinea, and tropical and sul>tropical seas in general. 



Xest. — Composed of twigs and leaves, piled up about two feet from 

 the gi'oimd, or placed on rocks or low shinibs — mangroves, &c. — in 

 rookeries on certain tropical islands. 



