■yM J \ivi.L, ArifaitiKi 0/ New Soii/Ii Wcdes Islands. lOl 



and ovir i^i'iu'i-al coiiiloit was i^ol iiuicasrd by tlu' si,i,dit of sc\'ci-al 

 sharks cruising m closr pioxiiuity to llir laiiii'h. On reaching^ 

 Cabbage Tree Island (the large one outside the Port) a blaek 

 squall came uji from the north-east, making such a dangerous 

 cross sea that the skipper decided to turn and run for home. The 

 day turned out wet and unpleasant, but we crossed over to the 

 sandspit off Corrie Island, where the White-faced Ternlets were 

 found breeding on Oth December last. These graceful little birds 

 were still in evidence, and a young bird was secured. Five 

 ungainly Pelicans observed our approach, and as we came within 

 a few hundred yards they waddled down to the water's edge and 

 swam off out of danger. Several Skuas [Stcrcorarius crepidatus) 

 were pursuing their nefarious trade, robbing the Crested Terns 

 of their hard-earned gains. 



Sunday, 29th January, broke finer, and by 6.30 a.m. we were 

 on our way to Broughton Island again, reaching Esmeralda Cove 

 at 9.15. The entrance to the Cove was rough and dangerous, 

 but we got through without mishap, and at once set out to ex- 

 plore the Mutton-Bird (Petrel) rookeries. There are four inhabited 

 areas on the western end of the island, where the sandy nature 

 of the soil allows the birds to excavate their burrows. Thick 

 tussocks, creepers of the genus Kennedya, and convolvulus form 

 a tangled growth under which the burrows lie. All the entrances 

 to the burrows of Puifinus sphenuriis were well trodden down, 

 and no fresh earth was noticed in front. These burrows con- 

 tained either young birds in full down or (in very few instances) 

 heavily-incubated eggs. The latter were probably laid by birds 

 that had been robbed earlier in the season by the Greek fishermen 

 who reside on the island during the crayfish season. 



A few newly-commenced burrows were found, having little 

 heaps of fresh sand at the entrance or scattered on the leaves of 

 the convolvulus. 



A stick inserted in the first burrow resulted in disturbing a 

 bird, which gave lively demonstrations of disapproval at the in- 

 trusion. Mr. Jackson deftly wielded a hoe, and, after opening 

 up about 2 feet of the burrow, I was able to withdraw a fine Petrel, 

 which made strenuous attempts to bite, and uttered a wailing 

 cry somewhat like that of Pitfmus sphenurus, but of a deeper and 

 more guttural tone. This bird appears to be Puffinus griseits 

 (Gmelin), not previously recorded as taken on Australian soil. It 

 is the common New Zealand "Mutton-Bird." We then opened up 

 the remainder of the burrow, and found that it extended fully 

 3 feet from the entrance, and terminated in a chamber, rounded 

 and arched, containing some short pieces of grass. There was no 

 egg, and the bird proved to be a male. Although many other 

 burrows were examined, no more specimens of this bird were 

 found ; most of the l)urrows showing fresh earth at the entrance 

 were incomplete. 



We took several nestlings of P. sphenurus for description, as 

 well as a couple of adults, and, after thoroughly examining the 



