^96 Mr. R. Hall on Birds 



The bill of specimen A, while in the shell at the stage noted, 

 ■was vermilion-rcd, but of a paler shade than in the adult. 



It seems to be generally understood that this species is 

 solitary while nesting ; but this is not always so^ because, 

 immediately above highwater-mark on a sandy point, I found 

 some thirteen pairs incubating. Most of the nests had two 

 eggs for the complement, others had only one. The parents 

 rose in a flock when approached and soared overhead, uttering 

 their guttural note repeatedly at long intervals. 



But though the birds on the West Wallabi Islands of the 

 Houtman^s Abrolhos were nesting together (20.10.99), others 

 ■were leading a solitary life upon the smaller islets. On Square 

 Island, of the Pelsart Group of the Abrolhos, I observed two 

 eggs (17.10.99) upon the coral-sand, without any pretence of 

 a nest beyond an indentation in the ground. 



The members of the Wallabi Island colony (western end) had 

 gathered together a few twigs in a small number of cases ; and 

 as these primitive nests were close to salt-bushes [Salsolacece), 

 I take it that the twigs were from those bushes. So much 

 were the bulk of these eggs like those of the Gnll [Gabianus 

 pacificus) that I should have been quite unable to identify 

 them had the owners themselves not assisted me, and had 

 it not been for the chicks within the eggs having vermilion- 

 red beaks. 



To identify the two eggs on the Pelsart Group was not so 

 easy, because a pair of Terns and a pair of Gulls were present 

 together. The Gulls made no noise, while the Terns did, 

 occasionally passing high overhead, but shewing no signs of 

 ownership of the nests. On taking up the eggs and leaving 

 the beach in the boat's dingey, I was satisfied when I saw one 

 " Caspian " descend upon the place where these valuable eggs 

 should have been. My fear that they would not be identified 

 ■was thus satisfactorily dismissed. The note of the bird in 

 the night reminded me of the smaller Penguins in southern 

 ■waters. 



Nestling. — Bill coral-red, with a subterminal black band; 

 legs and feet brownish orange. Otherwise as described in the 

 British Museum Catalogue. 



