288 BASSET HULL, Archipelago of the Recherche. [S^l^i 



mals, fishes, mollusks, and insects, now being classified and 

 worked out by the institution's experts. 



n. THE BIRDS. 

 This list contains particulars of the Birds not^d on the Islands 

 of the Recherche Archipelago only. References to other species 

 noted on the mainland will be found in the narrative. 



1. Synoicus australis. Browni Quail. — Several seen on Woody 

 Island; one female taken. 



2. Phaps elegan.s. Brush Bronzewing. — Fairly plentiful on Woody 

 Island; four males taken, all fully developed, but showing? remarkable 

 variation in the frontal patch, the colour being from slaty-grey to 

 yellow. 



3. Eudyptula minor. Little Penguin. — Birds and eggs taken on Rob 

 and Rabbit Islands; one bird seen on Charley Island. Not plentiful. 



4. Pelagodroma marina. White-faced Storm-Petrel. — One colony in 

 several sections in full breeding on Lion Island. Abandoned colony 

 on Rob Island. Eggs taken on Lion Island showed rather above the 

 average number of reddish markings. 



5. Puffinus carneipes. Fleshy-fcoted Petrel. — Seen in large num- 

 bers feeding ever the ocean between islands. Found breeding on 

 Charley, Rabbit, and Mondrain Islands. Laying evidently commences 

 about November 27th, but only a few eggs found on 29th. On later 

 dates to December 12th fresh eggs found, and numerous burrows 

 being still prepared for laying. The following table of dimensions of 

 the eggs taken is interesting, as showing the wide variation. They 

 are generally smaller than those of the Short-tailed Petrel (Puffinus 

 tenuirostris) . 



Localty. Charley Is. Rabbit Is. Mondrain Is. 



No. of eggs measured . . 14 2 12 



Greatest major axis .... 76 mm. 69 mm. 77 mm. 



Greatest minor axis .... 47 mm. 48 mm. 49 mm. 



Least major axis 66 mm. 67 mm. 64 mm. 



Least minor axis 42 mm. 48 mm. 43 mm. 



Average 69.50 x 45.50 68 x 48 mm. 70.25 x 46 mm. 



Average dimensions of the whole series measured — 69.2b x 46.50 

 mm. The birds show most marked variation in measurements, and 

 in the colour of the bill. Some specimens when taken out of the bur- 

 row had a bill of a dull leaden colour, not unlike that of the Wedge- 

 tailed Petrel; others were whitish, and others again had a distinct 

 reddish tinge. The following table will show that there is no relation 

 between the sexes or localities and the various nature of the bill 

 colouring: — 



Locality. Sex* Total. Wing. Tarsus. Culmen. Colour of Bill. 



1. Charley I. $ 390 310 .'S3 42 Whitish. 



2. ., ? 380 320 53 41 Whitish, tinged red 



3. ,, S 375 310 52 42 Whitish. 



4. ,, 2 390 320 54 44 Reddish. 

 6. ,, $ 390 315 51 41 Whitish. 



6. Mondrain I. S .390 .320 53 42 Whitish. 



7. ,. cT 390 310 53 42 Reddish. 



8. ,, 3- 395 318 53 42 Yellowish horn. 



9. ,. $ 380 315 52 41 Yellowish horn. 



10. ,, J 400 330 56 41 Reddish, verv robust. 



11. Rabbit I. J 390 325 53 44 Yellowish, tinged red. 

 No. 4 has all the breast feathers fringed with light bro\vn. 



