Il8 y^icnoLLS, Study of Penguins on The Nobbies, Vic. [isf'^an. 



An Introduction to the Study of the Penguins on The 

 Nobbies, Phillip Island* Western Port, Victoria. 



With Some Remarks on the Validity of Eudyptula undina 



(the Fairy Penguin). 



By Dr. Brooke Nicholls, R.A.O.U. 



The idea has long been entertained by Australian ornithologists 

 that two species of the genus Eudyptula inhabited the Victorian 

 coast. 



From the earliest times the study of this particular genus has 

 been more or less of a puzzle, and it has been the custom to 

 recognize two species — i.e., " a larger, light-coloured species known 

 as the Little Penguin {Eudyptula minor, Forster) and a smaller, 

 dark-coloured species, the Fairy Penguin {Eudyptula undina, 

 Gould)." The quotation is from Mathews's " Birds of Australia,"! 

 the latest work on the subject. This author, liowever, states that 

 the material he has on hand has led him to revise his views, and 

 he now thinks that there is but one form for the whole of Australia, 

 to which he gives the name Eudyptula novcehollandice {E. minor). 

 This species he believes to be "in a plastic state, several sub- 

 species being in the process of formation," and he is forced to this 

 conclusion by the variation shown in the examples he has studied 

 from Western Austraha, Tasmania, South Australia, and New 

 South Wales.* 



In grouping the whole of the Australian forms under the sub- 

 specific name E. novcshollandicF, Mathews states that he is afraid 

 his scheme will not commend itself to Australian ornithologists, 

 and he invites them to co-operate in solving the problem by 

 making a study of series of specimens from breeding places. f 



With the object of further studying the problem, a visit was 

 paid to the Penguin rookery at Phillip Island on 9th to 12th 

 March, 1917, in company with Mr. W. M'Lennan (" the man from 

 the mangroves ") and Mr. Tom Tregellas. It was our intention 

 to try and secure the necessary data whilst the birds were alive, 

 and afterwards liberate them ; but tlic impossibility of making 



* One of the " plastic sub-species " he describes fiom New Zealand waters under 

 the name of E. 7ninor zWrt'iz/^ (Chatham Island Little Penguin). This, he says, is the 

 most typical bird in his collection of ^. undina (the Fairy Penguin). He further states 

 that it was a good species to me as it was easily recognizable, in addition to its 

 smaller and darker coloraiicn, by its short, thick bill. His description is : — Adult 

 male differs from E. minor minor, Forster (New Zealand bird), in its smaller size, 

 darker coloration, and by its short, thick bill ; exposed portion of culmen 34 mm., 

 depth 16 mm. 



f Since the publication of vol. iv., Part V., of his " Birds of Australia," Mathews 

 has again reclassified the Eudyptula.'^^ He now admits two species for Australia — 

 viz., E. minor noviehollandiix (Little Penguin), range N.S.W. , Vic, Tas. , S.A. ; 

 and E. minor ivoodwardi, sub-sp. n. (Western Little Penguin). Differs from 

 E. m. novahollandicE in its grey-blue coloration above, and the flipper being grey 

 and not blue. 7>/^.— Sandy Hook Island, S.E. of Western Australia. Range, 

 Western Australia. 



