Birds* Skins and Eggs from Ascension Island. ^77 



immature specimen of P. flavirostris which I have seen was 

 harred across the back, like the adult of P. (Bthereus, but in 

 the adult of P. flavirostris this barring is lost. 



P. (Bthereus breeds in holes on the sides of Boatswain-bird 

 Island, and, like most of the other birds of Ascension, only 

 lays one egg. Curiously enough, male and female are 

 found sitting in their holes side by side, with their heads in- 

 wards ; and as soon as one has been drawn out it begins to 

 use its beak to considerable purpose. 



The specimens brought home were just beginning to change 

 their plumage, and in only one of the adult specimens are 

 the two tail-feathers at all conspicuous ; in the last example 

 there is one old feather and a new one, about two thirds the 

 length of the other. 



Phaeton flavirostris. 



One e^g from Boatswain-bird Island. 



This species, the best known of the genus, was rather scarce, 

 and Mr. Gill only obtained one adult specimen, which was 

 stolen during transit. They were breeding in holes on the 

 side of Boatswain -bird Island. 



The egg is somewhat smaller than that of P. athereus ; and 

 this particular specimen is somewhat peculiar, the chocolate 

 markings being collected round the larger end, whereas a 

 specimen in Mr. Saunders^s collection that I have seen is uni- 

 formly coloured ; and this is, I believe, the rule throughout 

 the genus. The fact that these two species of Phaeton had 

 both been found nesting in such close proximity, has already 

 been recorded by Messrs. Sclater and Salvin (P. Z. S. 1878, 

 p. 651) in one the Reports on the birds collected by H.M.S. 

 ' Challenger,' and is a point of considerable interest, as Ascen- 

 sion is, I believe, the only place as yet known where they 

 both breed. 



Wideawake {Stei-na fuliginosa) . 



Two adult, three young, five eggs. 



Although several accounts have been written of their prin- 

 cipal breeding-place, which is known as " Wideawake fair ;" 

 the following facts may be worth mentioning. On Asceu- 



