THE I B I S. 



SEVENTH SERIES. 



No. J V. OCTOBER 1895. 



XXXIII. — Notes on Birds found Nesting on Albatross 

 Island* in Bass Strait, Australia. By D. le Souef, 



On November 26thj 189i, I landed on Albatross Island, 

 accompanied by Mr. H. P. C. Asbworth. I remained there 

 five daySj and found the following eleven species of birds 

 nesting : — - 



1. DiOMEDEA CAUTA. {Shy Albutross,^) 



These beautiful birds were nesting in several small com- 

 panies on different parts of the island : the largest colony 

 having about forty nests, and the smallest only six. They 

 built in some instances on the rocky ledges of the cliff, at 

 various heights, but tlic larger number were on the top of the 

 island, near the edge of the cliff. The rocky ground at the 

 " rookery " was quite bare of vegetation, and mostly covered 

 Avith white guano. The male and female sit on the nest in 

 turUj and on one occasion I saw a male bird take the place of 

 a female, who then flew oft' to sea. 



There is very little difference between the appearance of 

 the male and female — the grey coloration on the side of the 

 neck being slightly darker and the yellow uiai'kings on the 

 beak brighter in the male, — but I did not notice any material 



* [Albatross Island is one of the Hunter Islands, off the north-western 

 point of Tasmania. — Edb.] 



SER. VII. VOL. I. 2 G 



