VoK ^XX. J !?,)y,i! Aiislralasian Onii/hn/o^ists' Union. 173 



Sternula nereis horni (Mathews). White-don ted Ternlct. — This 

 was a fairly common species on the shores of both Dirk Harlog and 

 Peron. On .'4th September 1 found a small colony breeding about 

 two miles from Denham. Tlie eggs, as usual, were laid in slight 

 hollows scratched in the sand just clear of high-water mark. About 

 a week later scn oral e.ggs were sent me from Dirk Hartog ; the\' liad 

 been taken on tlie beach witiiin a mile of the homestead. 



Onychoprion anaesthetus novae-hollandiae (Mathews . — The beautiful 

 P>ridled Tern was Irecpienlh' seen in jniirs. Mr. Carter obtained an egg 

 on Slope Island, but I saw nu nests myself. In Novemlicr, iqiX, I 

 met a Malay, near Denham, who was carrying a specimen he had jusi 

 shot. I noted that the iris was white. 



Larus novae-hollandiae. Silver Gull. — Common and very familiar. 

 There was usually an assembly around the station gallows, both at 

 Dirk Hartog homestead and at Peron. A colony breeds amongst a 

 host of Pied Cormorants at the Quoin BlufY, but the eggs are in much 

 request bv the coloured crews of the pearling boats. I saw only 

 two nests with eggs and a few vcnmg in down, hiding amongst the 

 (//bi'is on tlie headland lace. 



Arenarid interpres. Turnstone. — Small tiocks of this species were 

 seen both on Dirk Hartog and Peron. 



Hsematopus longirostris. Pied Oyster-catcher. — More common on 

 Dirk Hartog than (Mi Peron. Several pairs behaved as though they 

 were nesting on the beach to the north of the homestead. 



Haematopus fuliginosus. Black Oyster-catcher. — A few pairs were 

 seen on Dirk Hartog and Peron, but no evidence of their breeding. 



Zonifer tricolor. Black-breasted Plo\er. — This beautiful but 

 aggrcssi\e bird is a comparatively recent colonist on Dirk Hartog. 

 A few years ago several pairs arrived and nested. Since then the 

 species has gradually spread over the island, and is now found in 

 many suitable spots. At the West well, where I camped for some 

 weeks, were nine pairs inhabiting an extensive limestone fiat. I put 

 in a day or two at this well on my first visit to Dirk Hartog, October, 

 101!^. I found the species represented by a flock, and I secured a 

 jiair ot specimens. In general behaviour this Plover reminds me 

 very much of the familiar European Papwing (Vanellus cristatus^K 

 Init it is more noisy than the latter, and also more pugnacious. I 

 was unmercifully mobbed whene\-er 1 left or returned to my camp. 

 It was very amusing the way the birds flew straight at my face, then 

 qviickly swerved ofi when within six feet of me. keeping up an 

 incessant screaming during the performance. Eagles, Crows. Herons, 

 and even peaceful Terns were impartially attacked and driven away 

 by the Plovers. I was engaged with camp work when my attention 

 was attracted by a pair of Plovers rising from the flat about a quarter 

 of a mile away. They attacked and drove off a pair of Crows, and 

 then returned to the spot from which they had risen. This was 

 repeated when a second pair of Crows arrived. I marked the spot 

 and walked o\er to it. In a few minutes I fovmd the four beautiful 

 green pyriform eggs. They were laid in a very slight hollow lined 

 with sheep droppings, and surrounded by a few fragments of lime- 

 stone. I photographed the eggs in situ. During the operation both 

 birds were ]ierlectly cpiiesccnl, watching me from a distance of 

 JO!) yards or more. Probably other pairs were breeding on the flat 



