Vol. X. 



J Campbell axd White, Birds on Capricorn Group. IQQ 



A specimen was shot at Gladstone (mainland) for museum pur- 

 poses. 



The few Whimbrels observed were exceedingly wild. 



Black-tailed Godwit [Limosa limosa). 



Several of these birds were seen, a specimen procured, and 

 its identity proved beyond doubt. On North-West Island, on one 

 occasion when the camp was deserted, some Godwits were ob- 

 served walking about between the tents, almost lost in the high 

 grass. There appears to be a variation of this form, or else the 

 male bird is much smaller and shows a strongly defined line of 

 white from the base of the bill to the back of the head. 



Barred-rumped Godwit {Limosa novce-zealandice). 



Solitary birds or pairs of this species perambulated the beaches, 

 and now and again were observed thrusting their long bills into the 

 dry sand. What food could they possibly obtain there ? 



These Godwits, being great wanderers, interested us much. 

 They have been found as far south as Campbell Island, one of the 

 sub-antarctic islands of New Zealand.* They breed in the high 

 north of Eastern Siberia. No collection yet contains the eggs of 

 this species. The ancient Middendorff has figured an egg, but 

 does not describe it — merely mentioning that the nest is difficult 

 to find on the marshy meadows of the tundras. 



The difference in the sizes of the sexes was very noticeable. 

 Dimensions in inches : — Male. — Length, 12 ; culmen, 3.15 ; wing, 

 8.75 ; tail, 3 ; tarsus, 2.15. Female. — Length, 16 ; culmen, 3.75 ; 

 wing, 9.2 ; tail, 3 ; tarsus, 2.25. 



Crested Tern [Sterna bergii). 

 Lesser Crested Tern {Sterna media). 

 Black-naped Tern {Sterna melananchen). 

 White-shafted Ternlet {Sterna sinensis). 



" Noises of the Night " would have proved quite an article in 

 itself were a graphic description written of all the sounds — in 

 addition to those of wind and wave — that were heard on, say, 

 for instance, Mast-Head Island. Added to the hundreds of 

 voices 01 the White-capped Noddies and Brown-winged Terns, 

 not to mention the incoming Mutton-Birds (Petrels), there could 

 be heard the querulous cries- — an indescribable din — of Crested, 

 Lesser Crested, and Black-naped Terns, as they rose in crowds 

 from the sandy corners where they congregated, especially at 

 high tide. 



During the day, when the tide was out, the Terns were more 

 scattered over the reefs, or were away fishing. There were no 

 signs of nesting ; but it was a splendid sight to witness isolated 

 mated pairs of the large Crested Terns in the morning, mounting 

 in spiral form and sailing on high, sometimes mere specks against 

 the blue sky. Every now and again a couple would simultaneously, 



* " Nests and Eggs " (Campbell), p. 809. 



