Izj.2 Littler, A Trip to Ninth Island, Bass Strait. [ i^t "jan 



solidified. A few patches of bracken ferns here and there 

 constitute the only " timber," nevertheless there is plenty of drift- 

 wood for use in the hut, which is two-roomed and watertight. 

 Water is in plenty, but somewhat hard, from two or three soaks. 

 The island is primarily used as a grazing ground for sheep and 

 cattle. It is also a breeding-ground of Black Oyster-catchers 

 {^HcBiiiatopus unicolor), Pacific and Silver GwWs {Gabianus pacificus 

 and Larus novcE-liollandice), Sooty Petrels {Puffifius), White - 

 faced Storm-Petrels {Pelagodroma uiarina), White-breasted 

 Cormorants {PJialacrocorax gouldi),dSi^ Little Penguins {Eiidyptula 

 minor). As it is in the fly-line of migration between Tasmania 

 and the mainland, many species of land-birds make it a port of 

 call for a few hours. In addition to this, owing to its being in 

 proximity to the land, several species come off from the 

 north-east coast for the day and return at night. The only 

 seemingly resident species is the Pipit {Anthus australis). My 

 primary object in visiting this island was to fill in some blanks 

 in my knowledge regarding the habits of some of the sea-birds, 

 for inclusion in my forthcoming book on Tasmanian birds, shortly 

 to be placed in the printer's hands. Ninth Island was chosen 

 on account of its accessibility, but as it turned out my stay, 

 which was to have been but a week, extended to nearly a fort- 

 night, owing to the boat being unable to approach the island on 

 account of heavy weather. As a consequence, both my cousin 

 and myself were reduced to almost starvation rations during the 

 latter part of our stay. 



The first birds to come under our notice were White- 

 breasted Cormorants {Phalacrocorax gouldi). On a rocky 

 isthmus running out from the south-east corner of the island 

 was a large rookery with incubating operations in full swing. 

 There were between lOO and 150 nests, the majority containing 

 eggs. The rookery was divided into two parts, the portion on the 

 landward side containing eggs absolutely fresh ; some of the 

 nests furthest inland were only just ready for their reception ; the 

 nests towards the extremity of the isthmus contained eggs some- 

 what incubated. They were bulky structures of variously coloured 

 sea-weed ; the egg cavity occasionally contained fragments of 

 tussock-grass, but usually no lining other than fragments of sea 

 dSris was used. They were placed about 2 feet apart, on top 

 of the rocks, which were heavily lime-washed. After taking 

 some photographs of the sitting birds — for they allowed one to 

 approach to within three yards on this our first visit — and the 

 nests, a few clutches of eggs were secured, then the birds left in 

 peace. On again visiting the rookery a {c\w days later, it was 

 found that the Silver Gulls {Larus novcs-Jiollmidice) had played 

 havoc among the eggs. Later we watched through our field- 

 glasses these Gulls quietly drop down among the nests and steal 

 eggs from unprotected ones right under the noses of birds sitting 



