Vol. ^xv.j Hull, Avifauna of Neio South Wales Islands. 215 



birds disappear, only lo return alter the next storm, but at no time 

 are they numerous. Windlc says that when they are about there 

 would be one of these birds to 250 specimens of Albatross. Windlc 

 also states that on one day he shot a Wandering Albatross, and it 

 soared a distance of about half a mile before falling, and before he had 

 lime in his motor launch to come up to it a Giant Petrel had swooped 

 down on this bird, had lorn the breast open, and devoured a good deal 

 of the flesh. It had torn the specimen about so much that it was of 

 no use. From these observations Windle has learned to decoy the.se 

 birds by shooting an Albatross and tearing the skin away from the 

 breast, and setting it about 50 yards away from his boat when he is 

 fishing. He says if there is any Giant Petrel in the vicinity it is not 

 long before it swoops down upon the bait. A white s])ecinicn was 

 collected on tlie ^rcl of September. 1014. 



Prion ariel. — Only one of this species was noted, and it was pro- 

 cured in .\ugust, 1914. This bird was enticed to come right up to the 

 boat bv throwing pieces of fish into the water whilst it was circhng 

 overhead. 



Diomedea exulans. — These birds are noted from June until Novem- 

 ber. August, September, and October are the months when they 

 are very numerous. They generally follow the mail steamers up 

 the coast in large numbers, and the same birds have been noted to stay 

 within the vicinity of Sydney Heads for perhaps a week. 



Diomedea regia. — Only one of this species has been recorded, and 

 that was in July, 1913, but this should not be taken to imply that 

 they are not more numerous, as this bird was taken when we were 

 collecting D. exulans. There is very little difference to be noted in 

 these birds whilst in flight ; perhaps this has been the reason for only 

 one specimen being taken. 



Diomedea cautus. — These birds are noted in June, July, and 

 August ; in Julv thev are very numerous. 



Diomedea clilororhynchus. — Are to be seen from March until 

 December, and are to be classed as being the most common of the 

 Diomedea {ound on the coast of New South Wales. In proportion 

 to all other species of the Albatross family, it would not be exagger- 

 ating to say that the D. clilororhynchus would outnumber the others 

 by three to one. 



Diomedea (? sp. ; yellow-beaked, with yellow eyes\ — Are noted in 

 June, July, and August ; after August not one is to be seen. 



Diomedea (' sp. ; grey head and grey neck). — These birds seem to 

 take the place of the foregoing species, and are only noted after the 

 others have disappeared ; these continue to be seen up till the 

 beginning of December. 



Diomedea culminatus. — This bii^d, during the period ot these 

 observations, has not been noted, although a strict outlook has been 

 kept for same ; this also applies to Phasbetria fuliginosa. 



Sterna bergi!. — These are always numerous off vSydney Heads, with 

 the exception of the months of October and November ; during these 

 months we consider these birds, from Newcastle locality and along 

 this portion of the coast, adjourn to the Five Islands, South Coast, 

 to breed, but during the period of breeding of these birds there is an 

 occasional one to be seen. 



