Mr. J. C. McLean on the Spotted Shag. 301 



apart, on a ledge some fifteen inches wide and twenty-five 

 feet long, that ran along one side of the rock about three feet 

 from the top and eight from the base. The rock measures 

 about forty feet by eighteen and is about twelve feet high ; 

 it is surrounded by water, and is very difficult of access. 



The first nest contained three eggs, the second three, the 

 third two, the fourth three, the fifth two, the sixth two, tiie 

 seventh one, and the eighth two. It will therefore l)e seen 

 that four nests each contained two eggs, three three, and 

 one one. The eggs I took w^ere very slightly incubated. 



The nests are repaired every year for each laying, the old 

 nests being used as a foundation. When recently finished, the 

 different coloured seaweeds used give the nests a very pretty 

 appearance. They are far smaller than the nests of the 

 Black Shag [Ph. nova-hollandice) and are more finely built. 

 They are substantially built of twigs and coarse seaweed, and 

 are neatly repaired and lined with small twigs, fibrous roots, 

 tufts of grass, and fine seaweeds, with an occasional wing- 

 or tail-feather of the parent bird. The nest measures as 

 follows : — Width at base 20 inches, width of cavity 8, depth 

 of nest 4, depth of cavity 1*5. 



The egg is elliptical in shape and, when freshly laid, is of 

 a pale bluish green clouded with chalky white ; it measures 

 in length 2'2 inches, and in breadth 1*5. When blown and 

 held to the light the interior shows a deep sea-green. After 

 being in the nests some time the eggs become very much 

 stained and dirty. The cloudy appearance is due to the 

 chalky substance that may be seen on all Shags' eggs. lu 

 some places the eggs are scratched and the chalky substance 

 chipped off, as if by the point of the bird's bill, or the claws, 

 when turning the eggs in the nest. They are slightly smaller 

 than those of the Black Shag, and vary slightly in size. Of 

 eight eggs the largest measures 225 inches by 1'5, and the 

 smallest 2"! by 1"4; the largest and smallest eggs of one 

 clutch measure 2*25 by 1*5 and 2'15 by 1"4 respectively, and 

 of another clutch 2*2 by 1*5 and 2*1 by 1*4. 



On January 2, 1889, the fourth and fifth nests contained 

 young birds of a sooty black colour, without a sign of down. 

 In the other nests the eggs had not hatched. 



