^'''i92:f"] D.WIS. \ntcs from inilis Island 183 



1922. Number about 50. They have no settled rookery like the 

 White Gannet. The Brown Gannet is of a rich brown plumage, with 

 a stone-coloured beak; breast and abdomen are white; feet whitish 

 yellow, same colour as beak. On the beach they are to be seen some- 

 times in company with the other birds at the north-west end of the 

 island, at sunset, or on top of the island with their chicks. The younjr 

 when bcrn are covered with white down, which gi'adually gives place 

 to feathers. When about four months old they are covered with 

 brown plumage, except the breast and abdomen, which are of a rusty 

 white colour, a yellowish grey bill and yellow feet. They are able to 

 fly at this stage, but do not leave the spot where they were born, 

 being fed by the parent birds on an average twice a day. At this 

 stage they evidently possess a healthy appetite, and thrust nearly the 

 entire head down the parent birds' throat in an endeavour to satisfy 

 it. They live on fish caught at sea in the same way as the White 

 Gannet. The beak of the male is of a darker colour than that of the 

 female, which is light stone colour, the male slate. They are not as 

 numerous or as tame as the White Gannet, being difficult to approach 

 closely. 



March 26th, 1922. — A chick born in December is now fully fledged 

 and able to fly, although still fed by parent bird. The colour of the 

 breast is a dirty brown, instead of white as in the adult bird. 



April 4th, 1922. — Brown Gannets are arriving at the island in num- 

 bers, and nesting on the lower slopes of the island. They lay one 

 or two eggs. Several nests contain two. 



Sula sula. Red-legged Gannet. — One of these birds was seen on 

 December 17th, and since then they have at intervals been seen. There 

 are generally a couple of them to be seen after north-west winds. 



Puffinus pacificus. Wedge-tailed Petrel. — There is a considerable 

 number of "Mutton Birds" on the island, and they have riddled it with 

 burrows. The birds are more like moles than birds. The nest or 

 burrow is easily found, as there is always a small heap of sand on 

 the grass at the entrance, which has been excavated by the bird. The 

 young are covered with a grey fluff", and are only seen when dead. 

 Several were noticed half eaten by the hermit crabs, which are often 

 seen in the Mutton Bird's burrows. I have never seen a young Mut- 

 ton Bird about in the daytime, although the old birds are often in the 

 burrow all day. These birds are either very tame or very stupid, as 

 it is difficult to avoid walking on them at night-time. An egg was 

 taken from a burrow that had fallen in, the bird flying away at the 

 time. Apparently only one egg is laid. Egg moderately fresh. Taken 

 at north-west end of island. There are probably 100 to 150 of these 

 birds. 



March 23rd, 1922.— These birds leave the island during March. 

 There are only a few to be seen at night time now. 



March 25th, 1922. — Observed a young Mutton Bird, half fledged, in 

 one of the burrows at the south-east end of island. They are covered 

 with black fluff", and the beak is black. 



Sterna fuscata. Sooty Tern. — Probably the most numerous variety 

 on the island. They alight on any sandy patch within the grassed 

 area, but do not frequent the beach. They apparently lay in Septem- 

 ber, as on our arrival here the ycung were partially fledged (October 

 15th), and they leave the island, or at least the rookery where they 

 are born, about December 15th. On our arrival the young were just 

 beginning to fly, and appeared very helpless. The old and young- 

 birds keep up an incessant screaming noise at night time, which can 

 be heard from the anchorage half a mile off. There is a heavy mor- 

 tality among the young birds, but from what cause could not be 

 determined by us. Eggs were not obtained during 1921. As soon 

 as the young birds were able to fly, about December 15th, the 



