92 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



obtained many specimens of the bird. This makes it more 

 inexplicable why his figure (" Birds of Australia," folio, vol. vii., 

 pi. 47) was not coloured truer to life. The bird is made to 

 appear grey instead of light brown. 



Gould remarked that the powers of flight of this fine sea-bird 

 are exceedingly great, and in flying over the ocean it often 

 mounts higher in the air than any other member of its group, 

 and descends again with the utmost eagerness to seize any fatty 

 substance thrown overboard. Its actions and flight differ 

 slightly from those of the other petrels, and more resemble those 

 of the albatrosses. 



According to Professor Hutton, the Brown Petrel is very 

 common at sea from May to August, but retires to Kerguelen 

 Islands and other places to breed in September and October. 

 Each pair burrows horizontally into the wet peaty earth from 2 to 

 18 feet. At the end of the hole they form a large chamber and 

 construct in the centre of it a nest similar, except in size, to that 

 of an albatross, in the hollow top of which the female lays her 

 white egg. The bird seldom leaves its burrow during the day, 

 and from the habit of flying by night is called the Night Hawk 

 by sealers. Its cry resembles the bleating of a lamb. 



The Brown Petrel is considered one of the best divers of its 

 tribe. Sometimes it poises in the air for a moment at the height 

 of about 25 feet above the water, and closing its wings takes a 

 header into the waves. However, under water the bird uses its 

 wings much in the same manner as when flying. 



I have lately received eggs, accompanied with a skin (specimens 

 here exhibited to-night) of the Brown Petrel, from Macquarie 

 Island, where they were collected by Mr. Joseph Burton. Mac- 

 quarie Island is an exceedingly rough and rugged place, almost 

 devoid of vegetation, situated 860 miles south-east by south from 

 Hobart. It is about 20 miles long by about 7 miles broad, its 

 greatest height being 1,600 feet above sea level. 



In three specimens of eggs the shape is inclined to oval, more 

 or less compressed at one end ; texture of shell close and some- 

 what fine ; surface very slightly glossy ; colour pure when first 

 laid, but soon becomes soiled with brownish earthy stains. 

 Dimensions in inches : — (1) 2.8 x 2.04, (2) 2.79 x 1.98, (3) 2.73 

 x 1.96. 



Night Parrakeet (Geopsittacus occidentalis). 



It has been reported that this remarkable parrot has been seen 

 in the Mallee. Whether it has always existed in that locality, or 

 whether it has been driven there by the recent severe drought 

 experienced in its more central domains, is a matter of con- 

 jecture. 



A. J. Campbell. 



13th September, 1897. 



