100 Hull, Avifauna of Neiv South Wales Islands. [onf'oct 



numbers, and the Little Penguins {Endyptula minor) were dis- 

 covered and recorded as breeding — the farthest north record up 

 to that date. My notes on this trip were pubhshed in this journal 

 for October, 1907. In October, 1909, I visited several of the 

 islets off Wollongong, known as the Five Islands. Here I dis- 

 covered the White-faced Storm-Petrel {Pelagodronia marina) 

 breeding, thus establishing another " farther north " record for 

 this species, and also brought the Little Penguin's breeding record 

 a farther stage north. In October and December, 1910, I visited 

 Cabbage Tree and Broughton Islands, off Port Stephens, and took 

 the eggs of both of the last-named species at a still farther north 

 stage, besides re-discovering the White-winged Petrel {(Estrelafa 

 leiicoptera), and taking the type egg of that species. 



My next excursion took place in January last. Accompanied 

 by Mr. S. W. Jackson, Mr Robert Grant (Taxidermist to the 

 Australian Museum) and his wife, and rny son, I left Sydney on 

 the 26th January and journeyed overland to Saltash, at the head 

 of Port Stephens, and proceeded thence by launch down to 

 Nelson's Bay. The day was stormy, with frequent tropical rain, 

 but we fared through without mishap, only to find that the sea 

 at the entrance to the Port was too heavy to admit of our getting 

 out on the following morning. We decided to make the best use 

 of our time inside the Port, and went up by launch to Boondabah, 

 or Middle Island, a well-timbered and high islet about 8 miles 

 from the bay It was still raining at intervals, but we thoroughly 

 explored the islet, finding no trace of breeding sea-birds, and 

 but few land-birds Coracina mentalis, Malurus cyanochlamys. 

 Halcyon sanctus, Micrceca fascinans, Artamus sordid us, and Ptilotis 

 chrysops were noted. The scrub was in some parts very thick, 

 and in its wet state made exploration somewhat unpleasant. 



We then proceeded to Schnapper or Cabbage Tree Island, a 

 few miles further up the Port, where the Nankeen Night-Heronry 

 described in my last article is situated. Here we found a con- 

 siderable number of adult and young birds in all stages of plumage 

 flying about the tree-tops, squatting on the rough stick nests, 

 or perched in more or less statuesque attitudes on the branches. 

 Sad to relate, however, very many dead birds were discovered 

 scattered about on the ground, where some ruthless " sportsmen " 

 had left them after kiUing them for the mere lust of destruction. 

 It was interesting to note the variation in colouring of the legs 

 of the living birds. Greyish to vivid green characterized the 

 young birds, while the adults varied from yellow to bright 

 vermilion-red. 



On the following morning we were informed by the signalman 

 at Nelson's Bay that the sea was going down, so we essayed the 

 trip to Broughton Island. Crossing the bar was a trying ex- 

 perience, and the further we proceeded the worse the sea became. 

 Our little 30-foot launch was tossed like a cork on the huge green 

 rollers, and benzine cans and other loose articles went careering 

 from side to side. Some of our party were soon incapacitated, 



