l5o Royal Australasian Ornithologists' Union. [ist^'jan 



Thanks are due to Mr. H. J. Holloway and his brother, Mr. 

 WiUiam Holloway, for the services which they rendered to the 

 camping parties. Settlers on Flinders Island also gave valuable 

 assistance. Mr. F. M. Littler arranged for supplies for both 

 camps, and the forethought he displayed is to be commended. 



Subjoined is a detailed account of the birds identified : — 



SynoBCUS diemenensis. Tasmanian Brown Quail. — About half a dozen 

 specimens were flushed from the tussock grass on Rabbit Island, Franklin 

 Sound. Although no acttial birds were procured, there is not the slightest 

 doubt as to their identity. They were seen at very close quarters. 



Turnix varia. Painted Quail. — Hearing a booming call it was taken for 

 that of the Bronze-winged Pigeon, but, after beating the low scrub and 

 grass, a Quail was flushed and shot, proving to be Tiirnix varia. On com- 

 parison with Australian skins, it is found to be very much darker through- 

 out — feet much larger, and scales on same of a different shape ; tarsus, te 

 of an inch longer ; middle toe, -^ of an inch longer. 



Phaps elegans. Brush Bronze-wing. — A bird answering to the description 

 of the Brush Bronze-wing ran along the ground, following a path from the 

 beach into the scrub, only a few yards in front of one of the writers. Not 

 numerous. One seen on the way to Strzelecki Ranges. 



Eudyptula minor. Little Penguin. — These birds were found breeding 

 on most of the small islands around the coast of Flinders Island. Eggs, 

 fresh, to young just leaving the nest were observed. 



Pelagodroma marina. White-faced Storm-Petrel. — Found in numbers 

 breeding on Rabbit Island, Franklin Sound. Every burrow contained a 

 bird, eggs fresh or slightly incubated. When taken from their nesting 

 burrows and thrown into the air, the birds, in all cases, sank into the long- 

 grass where their burrows were located, and made a very feeble, if any, 

 attempt to fly off. Out of five specimens taken from the burrows, three 

 were males and two females. 



Puffinus tenuirostris (previcaudus). Short-tailed Petrel.— Nesting on 

 all the islands in Franklin Sound. Laying had only just begun, for in all 

 instances eggs were fresh, and of the birds sitting males seemed to pre- 

 dominate. 



Diomedea cauta. White-capped Albatross. — Seen a few miles from 

 Flinders, between that island and Tasmanian coast. 



Sterna bergii. Crested Tern. — In numbers in Franklin Sound. Breeding 

 on small islands, eggs partly incubated. 



Sterna nereis. White-faced Ternlet. — Two birds observed. 



Larus novae-hollandise. Silver Gull. — Seen in great numbers following 

 the shipping. Some were nesting on rocky islets in Franklin Sound. 



Gabianus paciflcus. Pacific Gull. — Found nesting in numbers on all the 

 small islands in Franklin Sound. Incubation slight to well advanced. 



Haematopus longirostris. Pied Oyster-catcher. — Seen on the sandy 

 beaches of Flinders Island, and on the rocky islets of Franklin Sound, 

 where they were breeding. 



Haematopus fuliginosus. Black Oyster-catcher.- Rather numerous. 

 Several nests containing eggs were observed. 



ffigialitis ruflcapilla. Red-capped Dottrel.— On the beaches in com- 

 pany with Stints. 



