from Western Australia. 197 



G2. Sterna dougalli. Roseate Tern. (Hall's Key, 

 p. 88.) 



Sk.ad. (^. 26.10.99. Pelsart Group, Houf-man^s Abrolhos. 



This species was always seen in small companies, and 

 although I tried diligently to find it incubating, it appeared 

 to be waiting for November. Mr. Beddoes speaks of April, 

 June, November, and December as the months for nestiag. 



63. Sterna bergii. Crested Tern. (Hall's Key, p. 88.) 

 A nestling and an adult were secured on Square Island, of 



the Pelsart Group of the Houtman's Abrolhos. The nestling, 

 though quite young, attempted to swim a considerable distance 

 and had to be shot. 



Nestling. — The description agrees with that of Mr. Saunders 

 (Brit. Mus. Cat.), excepting that the upper part of the feet 

 and tarsi are slate-coloured, the under portion of the feet 

 ochreous. 



This islet, of some three acres in extent, is fiat and sandy, 

 a small part being covered with salt-bush. On it a score of 

 pairs of the Terns had just hatched out their young, and the 

 little birds, from a week to a fortnight old, were hiding or 

 attempting to hide under bushes or running away terror- 

 stricken. Amongst them an Osprey had its nest and young. 



64. Sterna fuliginosa. Sooty Tern. (Hall's Key, 

 p. 89.) 



Sk. ad. ? . Rat Island, Easter Group, Houtman's Abrolhos. 

 17.10.99. 



Our cutter-yacht, the ' Wanda,' sailed into an anchorage off 

 Rat Island on the afternoon of a fine day. We immediately 

 walked a few hundred yards along the beach to a '' rookery '■* 

 that contained some 2000 Sooty Terns, each of which had 

 deposited or was depositing its single egg under a salt-bush. 

 The Salsolacets, from two to three feet high and close 

 together, occupy most of the island, which is about three 

 miles long. Through them we "quietly" crashed, and so 

 disturbed the birds which we passed that they scrambled out 

 and did not feel at ease until they had with difficulty risen 

 upon the wing. At least a thousand of them must have been 



