x.-| 



)I0 J 



From. Magazines, &-c. 



59 



October, 1907, and Norfolk Island from 8th October to 15th 

 November, 1908, his primary object being to see the immense 

 flocks of Terns and other sea-birds during their breeding season, 

 and at the same time to glean some information respecting 

 land-birds. 



About 80 species, the majority Australian, are dealt with 

 systematically, with references to previous literature, habitat, 

 and field observations, while the descriptions and dimensions of 

 eggs enhance the oological value of the article. Particularly 

 interesting are the remarks written under the heading of the 

 "Big Hill Muttoii-Bird " of Norfolk Island, whether it is (Estre- 

 lata }iegiecta, Schlegel, or Qi. phillipii, Grey. 



" With every possible deference to the authorities who have 

 merged CE. phillipii into ffi". neglecta" writes Mr. Basset Hull, 

 " I am of opinion that the birds represent two distinct species. 

 Further information as to the description and habitat of CE. 

 tieglecta may be anticipated from the investigations of Messrs. 

 T. Iredale and party, who spent nearly the whole year 1908 on 

 the Kermadecs."* 



The following table of Mr. Basset Hull shows a marked dis- 

 similarity of the four kinds of birds, their habits, and their 

 breeding seasons : — 



There certainly appears to be at least two species or varieties 

 of birds — those uniform in colour of Lord Howe and Norfolk 

 Islands, which lay in burrows, and those variable in colour of 

 the more southerly Kermadecs, which lay in the open, except 

 it be that in the case of the birds nesting in the open — the only 

 Petrel known to do so, consequently differing from other 

 Petrels, that breed in darkness underground — their environment 

 may cause the particoloured offspring, similar to the Biblical 

 statement of the patriarch of old and the " ring-straked, speckled, 

 and spotted " cattle. 



Mr. Basset Hull's remarks on the familiar Mutton-Bird 



* The result of Mr. Iredale's investigations appears in this issue of The Emu, 

 pp. 13-15.— Eds. 



