496 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION D. 
About half an hour after sundown they commence moaning and 
get uneasy in their burrows, and shortly afterwards birds may be 
seen swiftly cutting the air in many directions. The moaning 
and infant-like cries of the wedge-tailed petrel are a curious 
experience. After a ramble, one quiet night, I noted in my 
pocket-book next morning that “the whole island seemed groaning 
and travailling in pain with the noise of mutton birds.” Some- 
times the roofs of the guano station are struck with terrible force 
by the birds during flight. About half an hour before sunrise 
they disappear underground, when all is quiet as far as they are 
concerned. The attitude of this petrel upon the ground resembles 
a duck upon water, a squatting posture. When walking they 
are assisted by their wings, which gives the bird a waddling or 
lame gait. The burrows generally extended two or three feet in 
an oblique direction, rarely more than five feet. Sometimes they 
deposit their single egg in holes or fissures of rock, while more 
than once eggs have been taken from under bushes. The eggs, 
like those of the noddies and other birds, are excellent eating, not 
at all fishy in flavour as may be supposed. 
Procellaria fregata, Linn. (White-faced storm-petrel.) 15th 
December, found young about ten days old in burrows upon 
Beacon Rock, near Rat Island. They were clothed in long 
bluish-grey down, with dark naked head and bill ; feet also dark- 
coloured, with webs yellowish-white. After death an amber- 
coloured oil exudes freely from the beak. 
Phaéton candidus, Briss. (White-tailed tropic-bird.) An occa- 
sional visitor. 
Phaéton rubricauda, Bodd. (Red-tailed tropic-bird.) Seen 
occasionally on Rat Island during calm weather. 
Graculus varius, Gm. (Pied cormorant.) Frequent the bays 
and breed in numbers upon isolated rocks. 
Pelecanus conspicillatus, Temm. (Australian pelican.) Have 
been known to breed upon Pigeon Island (Wallaby group) during 
September. 
REPTILIA. 
Morelia variegata (?) (Carpet snake.) Found only on Wallaby 
group. Said to be a darker variety than that found on the 
mainland, and not so lively in movements. Maximum length 
about nine feet. Supposed to be non-venomous. 
Lgernia kingt, Gr. During the season these lizards devour 
many of the eggs and young of the noddy and sooty terns, when 
their skin assumes a darker hue ; but whether this be from the 
change of food or merely a summer coat remains to be proved. 
L£gernia stokest, Gr. 
Lygosoma lesueurt, D. and B. (variety). 
Lygosoma prepeditum, Blg. 
