Vol. XVII. 



19T7 



1 Macgillivray, Ornithologist in North Queensland. 85 



Sterna melanauchen (Gygisterna sumatrana kempi). — Only noted 

 once or twice after passing Cape Flattery on our way up the coast. 



Mr. M'Lennan found this species nesting freely on one of the 

 smaller islands in Lloyd's Bay on 17th October ; all the nests con- 

 tained young birds. He also noted them a year later on the western 

 side of the Peninsula. 



Onychoprion anaestheta (Melanosterna ancsthetus novcehollandics). — 

 We noted this species on the way up the coast after and before entering 

 the Reef. On the 30th November we noted hundreds of these birds 

 over the least of the three islands in Lloyd's Bay. This had been 

 visited by Mr. M'Lennan on the i6th October, when he found them 

 nesting freely in the crevices of the rocks. When nearing Quoin 

 Island, on the same day, a great number of birds were hovering over 

 it and settling on the shore at one end. A nearer approach enabled 

 us to make them out as mostly of this species. Quoin Island is a 

 rocky island about a quarter of a mile in length, and rising at its 

 highest point about 60 feet from the sea. A dense growth of a 

 stunted, succulent tree covers a good part of the top, coarse grass 

 and herbage the slopes and lower part. This Tern was flying all 

 over the island and nesting in the crevices of the rocks, in caves, and 

 under herbage. 



During our stay on Raine Island we found this species breeding 

 in crevices of the rocks and amongst the piles of stacked limestone 

 in the central hollow of the island. The birds were in great numbers 

 on this island. At sea we frequently noted them hawking over the 

 shoals of fish. 



Onychoprion fuliginosa (O. fuscata serrata). — Raine Island provided 

 us with many sights, but one of the most extraordinary and at the same 

 time most interesting of these was furnished by this species. The 

 birds come in from the sea at about 5 p.m. in immense numbers. 

 They do not light upon the land, as one would expect them to do, 

 but fly high round and round over the island in a vast circle, every 

 bird uttering shrill cries. The noise produced by such a vast 

 assemblage of birds is incessant and indescribable. It can only be 

 compared to that of millions of Cockatoos all calling at once. This 

 seemingly purposeless flight goes on all night long. One soon gets 

 accustomed to the din, and it lulls one to sleep ; indeed, the sudden 

 cessation of the calling in the morning at daybreak, when the birds 

 all make off to sea, is apt to awaken one. Watching these birds 

 flying overhead, a few seem to keep together, in pairs, but otherwise 

 one cannot make out any other purpose in this extraordinary flight. 

 I could only think that it was a mating flight, preliminary to the 

 commencement of the nesting season. After they leave the island in 

 the morning we see no more of them until their return in the evening 

 to resume their flight and fill the air with their graceful forms and 

 incessant cries. This happened throughout our staj^ on the island. 



Anous stolidus (A. s. gilberti). — This species was noted on the way 

 up the coast, and when we arrived on Raine Island we found them 

 in great numbers, lining the seashore of the island or in small colonies 

 all over the island, mostly composed of fully-fledged young and their 

 parents. Many more were continually over the sea in the vicinity 

 of the island, and towards nightfall many more came in to roost on 

 the island. 



