^"';9m"' ] -^J-^CGiLLiVRAY, A'o/c'i Oil Sonic N. Queensland Dinls. I/tl 



lound in its burrows on Rainc Island in October, Mr. M'Lennan also 

 found at home in its burrows when at Raine Island in July, 191 1. 

 He obtained several skins, and noted that each burrow contained 

 two birds. He visited the burrows after dark, and waited for some 

 time, and saw only one bird leave, but could hear mournful calling 

 in all directions. A male and female in e^jch burrow. 



V, ovarv normal ; length, i6|- inches ; iris dark brown ; horny tip 

 of bill dark brown, nostrils dark brown, rest of bill brownish-grey ; 

 legs and feet fleshy-white with brown markings. Stomach empty. 



<^, testes enlarged ; length, i6-|- inches ; iris and other parts coloured 

 as in female. Stomach contained green slime. 



Hydrochelidon fluviatilis. ^larsh Tern. — A small flock noted at 

 Sedan, on the Cloncurry River, on 12th February, 1910, and numbers 

 over a big lake in the same locality on ist March, 1910. They were 

 again seen over the Big Dalgonally Lake, at Byi-omine, on the same 

 river, on the 4th of April. At Cape York they were hovering over 

 Lake Sanamerc, 3 miles from the Jardine River. Mr. M'Lennan 

 remarks that this lake has more than its share of crocodiles, and thai 

 no living thing swims on its surface. 



Gelochelidon macrotarsa. Cxull-billed Tern. — On 12th February, 

 i(;io, Mr. M'Lennan notes : — " A few Gull-billed Terns passed up the 

 river to-day." Another flock was seen flying south on the 13th A 

 pair was flying over the Big Dalgonally Lake on the ust March, loio. 

 Not noted at Cape York. 



Sterna gracilis. Graceful Tern. — This beautiful Tern nests annually 

 on the top of Bushy Island, Torres Sti-ait, in October. It was seen on 

 the Macarthur Islands, Hundreds of dead and dried bodies of this 

 species, all young birds, were found on a vegetated sand-bank off the 

 Coburn Reef on 17th July, 191 1, possibly killed by the hurricane 

 which visited the coast of Queensland some months previously, as 

 I have a note from Mr. Olive, of Cooktown, that thousands of dead 

 Terns and other sea-birds were to be found along the beach between 

 that town and Port Douglas after that hurricane. 



On an exposed coral ridge off Cairncross Island an old nesting-place 

 was found, and a few of the birds were seen hovering over the reef. 



Sterna media. Lesser Crested Tern — Upon visiting the Upolu 

 Bank, Cairns, on 19th November, 190Q, Mr. M'Lennan found the 

 whole surface covered with this species, in company with Anous 

 stolidus, all starting to prepare their nests. On the 14th December, 

 1909, a small colony was found tending young on Oyster Cay, 

 Cairns. All eggs had hatched. There were three other species nesting 

 on the same islet— ^4. stolidus, Sterna cristata, and Onychoprion fulig- 

 inosa. Not noted on any of the islands near Cape York. 



Sterna cristata. Crested Tern. — On visiting Oyster Cay, Cairns, 

 on the 14th December, 1909, three colonies were found, all sitting 

 on eggs. On nth November, 191C1, this species was breeding 

 freely on Mid Rock, Torres Strait. At Raine Island, on 9th 

 July, 191 1, a small colony was found in the centre of the island. 

 The Gulls had been levying a heavy loll on them. On 27111 July, 

 191 1, great numbers were noted on Bramble Cay, but no young or 

 eggs, although a few birds were flying about with fish in their bills. 

 They have a long, sweeping action of the wings, and often go up in 

 company in a spiral flight, and the higher they go the larger they 



