Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria. 117 



Mr. White seconded the motion, wliich was put, and 

 carried. 



At the conclusion of the paper, some specimens were 

 exhibited, and photographs circulated. 



The President said that sach a paper could hardly give 

 rise to much discussion, seeing that it was simply a record 

 of facts. At the same time the record of such lacts was an 

 exceedingly valuable piece of work. It was one of the first 

 duties of a Society, such as theirs, to encourage the accumu- 

 lation of such papers, and to preserve the results of such 

 investigations in its publications. He trusted that such 

 work would be vigorously practised by their Biological 

 Members. It was one of the most important branches of 

 the work of the Society, and one that tended to bring the 

 Society credit in other parts of the world. 



Mr. Jennings said he thought it would be interesting to 

 know whether the birds were only to be found on the island 

 refen-ed to, and in that case, whether there were any 

 peculiarities in their habits, and in the character of the 

 country to explain why they were only found in that part of 

 the country. 



Professor Spencer said they were very grateful to Mr, 

 Campbell for giving them the result of his work, as hitherto 

 very little had been done in that direction. With regard to 

 the nocturnal petrel, which he believed was the only one 

 known, he would like to know if Mr. Campbell had 

 discovered any reason for this bird taking on its nocturnal 

 habits, and whether there was one in South Australia. 



Mr. Campbell, in reply to Professor Spencer, stated that 

 he had not found any reason wliy the bird should be 

 nocturnal. As Professor Spencer said it had not been 

 recorded before, he had been very much astonished on 

 finding this to be the case. Referring to the mutton bird, 

 he said he thought there was no instance of any petrel 

 breeding on the mainland. They did so on the rocks 

 sometimes, within two hundred yards of it. Possibly they 

 were crowded out, as the place was honey-combed all over. 

 In reply to a question by Mr. White, he stated that he had 

 not noticed any rats on Rocknest Island. He believed 

 Abrolhos Island was swarming with them at one time, but 

 they were common European rats introduced by some 

 shipwreck. The rainfall on the Guano Island, was about 



