Vol. IX. 

 1910 



"I Littler, A Trip to Ninth Island, Bass Strait. -^43 



hard by. From observations it was found that the Cormorants 

 were afraid of the Silver Gulls, and would not return to protect 

 their nests while any of the impudent robbers were close by. 

 On other parts of the island the remains of extensive rookeries 

 were evident. It was noted that when this Cormorant is in full 

 flight its wing action much resembles that of the Black Duck 

 {Anas superciliosa). For the first few days Silver Gulls were 

 scarce, but after that they greatly increased, and a large flock 

 was always to be seen in the vicinity of the Cormorant rookery. 

 As is usually the case, they quarrelled much among themselves, 

 and, to make up for any bullying received from the Pacific Gulls, 

 harried the Cormorants unmercifully. 



Pacific Gulls were not at all plentiful, never more than a dozen 

 individuals being seen in the vicinity of the island at one time. 

 They were mostly fully adult birds, only two or three being in 

 second year plumage. On this island, where there are large 

 rookeries of White-faced Storm-Petrels {Pelagodrovia marina), of 

 which more anon, we found that the Pacific Gull was respons- 

 ible for the death of great numbers of this dainty little Petrel, 

 for, on moonlight nights especially, it could both be seen and 

 heard " hawking " over the rookeries, and every now and then 

 pouncing down on a bird. Gabiamis pacificiis is a noble bird 

 on the wing, reminding one much of the Swamp-Hawk {Circus 

 goiildi) in the way in which it sails in great circles, and in small 

 companies " hawks " backwards and forwards over the same 

 ground. When progressing at what might be termed an ordin- 

 ary rate of speed, it beats the air with its wings lOO times in 80 

 seconds. When sailing directly in the eye of the wind on 

 motionless wings, and wishful of changing its course either to 

 the right or the left, the tips of the wings are slightly depressed 

 and the body brought round by a slight lateral movement of the 

 head and tail, but not the faintest resemblance of a flap is given. 

 Its cry, especially when " hawking " in pairs, might often be 

 mistaken for the short bark of the terrier dog. 



Along the rocky foreshore were to be seen Black Oyster- 

 catchers {HcBinatopus unicolor) either in pairs or small companies. 

 It was noted that they rarely perched more than a yard or two 

 from the water's edge, even when merely resting. On two 

 occasions only were birds seen to fly above high water mark ; 

 the furthest out rocks seemed to have an irresistible attraction 

 for them. Their sharp, penetrating cry was nearly always uttered 

 when in full flight. 



Before going to Ninth Island we were informed that large 

 numbers of White-faced Storm-Petrels {Pelagodrovia marina) 

 nested there, so naturally we expected to witness some interest- 

 ing sights when these birds came in to clean out their burrows. 

 On arriving on the island on the 22nd September, a keen search 

 was made for evidences of burrows of this tiny Petrel. We were 



