1917-] With the Briiish Association in Australia. 43 



Gull (Larus atricilla). The Gulls were the only birds on 

 the island which had made any attempt at the construction 

 of a nest, their eggs being deposited in rough low structures 

 of dried vegetation and seaweed. In three cases the eggs 

 were on the point of hatching, whilst in the fourth they 

 were quite fresh. 



The eggs of the Terns were for the most part well 

 incubated, especially those of the Cabot's Terns, but I saw 

 no young birds. 



Several Frigate Birds (^Fregata aquila), which had taken 

 wing some time before, now circled high overlicad. 1 do 

 not think, however, they were nesting on the island. 



Before exploring the next island I set out to stalk a flock 

 of some ten small waders which 1 had noticed on a coral 

 reef near by. They were very shy, but I was lucky enough 

 to secure two which proved to be examples of Baird's 

 Sandpiper (Jfringa fuscicollis) . 



Chica Island is slightly smaller than Pajaros Island, near 

 which it lies. On it we found a nesting colony of some 

 fifty pairs of Blue-faced Boobies. The parent bii'ds, par- 

 ticularly those with young, were absolutely fearless, and 

 remained upon their nests snapping at us with their formid- 

 able beaks. We drove some of them off their nests, when 

 they rose heavily into the air and circled round our heads. 

 Many of the nests contained young birds a few days old, 

 others two eggs, and several one egg only. We also came 

 on some young birds which appeared to be a])out a fort- 

 night old. 



Specimens of Sterna fuliginosa, of Sterna sandvicensis: 

 acvflavida, and of Tringa fuscicollis from this locality have 

 been presented to the British Museum by the writer. 



IV. — With the British Association in Australia. 

 By A. H. Evans, M.A., M.B.O.U. 



As the Council of the British Association were kind enough 

 to include me in their list of members specially selected to 

 attend the meeting of 1914 in Australia, it is almost a duty 



