I -20 Lavvson, .J Visit io RoUncst Island, \V .A. [sth'jan- 



Rottnest is reserved as a summer residence for the State 

 Governor of Western Australia, and for a native peneil settle- 

 ment, so that it is very little disturbed by the presence of man. 



I spent a full fortnight on the island, during which I devoted 

 the whole time to an examination of the bird life. Breeding 

 operations were in progress with several species, but I was too 

 late for the nests of the Passerine birds. 



HiERAClDEA BERIGORA (Striped Brown Hawk). — I several times encoun- 

 tered this species, but hardly think there were more than a pair or two on 

 the island. On one occasion I surprised an individual engaged in plundering 

 the bait from a crayfish basket. I also saw a pair attack and successfully 

 carry off from the centre of the largest lagoon a wounded Banded Stilt. 



Cerchneis CENCHROIDES (Kestrel). — A few pairs on the island, probably 

 breeding in the cliffs. 



Pandion LEUCOCEPHALUS (Osprey). — I had the good fortune to examine 

 and photograph two eyries of this fine species — one with eggs, the other 

 with a nearly full-grown nestling. In each case the nesting sites were 

 turret-like spurs in the limestone cliffs, where the latter were at their 

 greatest elevation. Neither was really difiicult of access, though the 

 rocks had weathered away into very rough and jagged prominences, 

 rendering them very far from pleasant country to scramble over. The 

 nests were large but rather shallow structures of short branches, lumps 

 of wood, pieces of reed, and other flotsam to be found on the beach, with 

 an interior lining of seaweed, sponges, straw bottle-covers, and a few reed- 

 like plants of a smaller kind. The first nest contained three handsome eggs, 

 hardly distinguishable from those of the Holarctic P. haliaetus. In the 

 case of the second nest the parent birds were hovering overhead, within 

 easy shot, whilst I was taking a photograph of their home and offspring. 

 Near at hand, on a spur projecting further out into the ocean, were the 

 remains of an old nest, perhaps that of the previous year. 



CORVUS CORONOIDES (Crow). — A few occasionally seen, probably visitors 

 from the mainland. I shot one at dusk, unintentionally, being deceived 

 in the semi-darkness. I saw no signs of the Raven, a species one might 

 expect to find in such a locality. 



Petrceca GOODENOVII (Red-capped Robin). — It is a remarkable fact that 

 the Robin breeding on Rottnest should be. this species, which is almost 

 unknown within a very wide radius on the adjacent mainland. It 

 seems fairly plentiful, but the song and call note struck me as being 

 feeble in comparison with those of birds on the Murchison goldfield and 

 interior in general. I saw no signs of P. cainpbelli on Rottnest. 



Sericornis M.'VCUL.^TA (Spotted Scrub-Wren). — I encountered a few 

 family parties in the thick acacia scrub. It was very difficult to procure 

 specimens for identification. 



Ephthianura albifrons (White-fronted Chat). — One or two seen near 

 the salt lagoons. 



Pachycephala OCCIDENTALIS (Western Thickhead). — Not uncommon in 

 the acacia scrubs. From the appearance of se\'eral I dissected, I have 

 no doubt that males pair before they have fully attained the brilliant yellovy 

 under parts.* 



* See P. gui/uralis, " Nests and Eggs " (Campbell), p. 320. — Eds. 



