^°ioi^' J ^vi.\., Descriptions of New Petrel and Some Nestliw^s. QQ 



This hird (/'. iiitcr)iicdiits) \v;is xcry savage, and made several 

 \'ici()us dashes at my liand. hissing and making a wailing cry at 

 inter\'als. 



(Estrelata leucoptera ((iould) \Vihtk-win(;ed Pktkel 



Nestling. — About four weeks old : — Head and the whole ui)i)er 

 surface covered with bluish-grey down, extending on to thi' 

 flanks ; chin, throat, and uj)per breast white ; centre of breast, 

 abdomen, and under tail white. Bill black : interdigital membrane 

 fleshy white and basal half black Total length, 8 inches. 



Younger birds, about 5 inches in length, show more of the white 

 on the under surface. Both taken on Cabbage Tree Island, 30th 

 January. i()ii. (See Plate IX.) 



Puffinus sphenurus (Gould)— Wedge-tailed Petrel. 



Nestling. — About two weeks old : — Covered with down, the 

 upper and most of the under surface ashy-grey, throat and upper 

 breast greyish-white. Bill black, with horn-coloured tip Feet 

 yellowish-white. Total length, 6 inches. Broughton I?land, 

 30th January, 1911. 



About ten weeks old : — True feathers on back and wings sooty- 

 black, ashy-grey on the breast ; throat darker. Bill black ; feet 

 and toes yellowish-white. Total length, 10 inches. Broughton 

 Island, 13th March, 191 1. 



Avifauna of New South Wales Islands. 



Bv A. F. B.ASSET Hull, R.A.O.U.. Sydney. 

 Part I. 

 The superior greenness of distant hills is proverbial, and the same 

 attraction of remoteness appeals to the average ornithologist, 

 who will accomplish long journeys to visit distant islands in 

 search of something new, passing by unsuspected treasure-spots 

 near home. Generations of naturalists have gone far afield from 

 Sydney, neglecting the numerous islets dotted along the coast 

 of New South Wales, unaware of the riches that lay so close to 

 hand. 



In my last contribution to this journal {Emu, vol. .\., p. 253). 

 I gave a brief account of the results of three visits to the islands 

 in the vicinity of Port Stephens, and I propose now to continue 

 the narrative of other expeditions taken since, and (I hope) to be 

 taken from time to time as opportunity permits. 



With the valuable co-operation of Mr. H. L. White, of Belltrees, 

 N.S.W., I have made two more expeditions, and look forward to 

 many more visits to our coastal islands during the remainder of 

 this year. 



A brief glance at previous expeditions and results may be per- 

 mitted as a preface to this series of notes. In September, 1907, 

 I visited Montague Island, 150 miles south of Sydney, where the 

 Silver Gulls (Lanis novcc-hollandice) were found breeding in great 



