^'•1 Hull, Avifauna of New South Wales Islands. 205 



this season. In all directions, however, there was evidence of 

 the ravages oi the (kills' enemies in the shape of broken eggs (the 

 contents of which had been eaten) and dead or damaged young 

 birds. Several Sea-Eagles were hovering about, a few Ravens 

 were noticed, and a Harrier was also seen. We were fortunate 

 enough to discover a nest containing three eggs of the remarkable 

 red mutation described in my article for October, 1908. I ob- 

 tained a good picture (Plate XXI.) of this clutch,* which was the 

 only one of the kind seen by us, and the first full complement of 

 three eggs — the former instances being one egg found by myself 

 and two eggs found by my son in September, 1907, and two eggs 

 found by Mr. Bailey in October, 1907. Mr. Bailey also saw two 

 eggs in 1909, but left them in order that the full complement might 

 be laid. Unfortunately, an enemy, in the shape of a Raven or 

 Eagle, took them. One egg was found in the blue mutation 

 without markings, and a very fine set of three in a deep l)lue 

 colour with black markings. One egg was also seen in which a 

 band of deep green colour extended round the centre. The egg 

 was otherwise normal. An egg taken by Mrs. Glover as a 

 curiosity was of a pale blue colour with a deep umber cap. 



Sterna bergii. — In previous years some thousands of these 

 birds lired on the island, inhabiting a shingly })atch on the western 

 side of the north island. In 1907 there were a few birds assembling 

 when 1 was there (21st September), and the main flock arrived 

 and laid their eggs about the middle of October. This year they 

 commenced laying on the 21st September, but selected a new 

 nesting-place on the eastern side of the island. Very few birds 

 laid, and I only saw some 20 or 30 eggs. In one case there were 

 two eggs, evidently laid by the same bird. Mr. Bailey saw several 

 pairs of Terns' eggs in the 1908 season, and in 1909 he wrote (i6th 

 November) : — " I have noticed this last week or so that a number 

 of the Terns are laying two eggs, and there was one clutch of 

 three." I had no one to take notes in 1910, as Mr. Bailey had 

 been transferred to another station. The instance I mention as 

 having seen, and which I photographed, is, I am quite satisfied, 

 a case of two eggs laid by the same bird. The Terns must have 

 found some other breeding-place for this year, so far as the bulk 

 of the flock is concerned, for Mr. Williams informed me (9th 

 November) that no more had arrived. 



Eudyptula minor. — In 1907 this bird was breeding in con- 

 siderable numbers on the south island. This year (1911) the 

 numbers had increased largely, and burrows in the banks, holes 

 under rocks, and tunnels under the tussocks were inhabited by 

 birds sitting on eggs in all stages of incubation, or young birds 

 in all stages of growth. On the loth August Mr. W'illiams wrote 

 me that there were then some young birds as large as the old ones. 

 That would date the laying of the eggs back to May, or even 



* This set is now in the collection of IMr. H. L. White, " Belltrees," 

 Scone. 



