200 Camp.bell and White, Bivds on Capricorn Group, [j^f'}^",.. 



with perfect unity of action, set their lengthened pinions at a 



certain angle with the wind, wheel, and descend so rapidly that 



the cleavage of the air caused a humming sound like that of a 

 distant deep-toned siren of a steamer. 



Brown-winged Tern [Sterna anccstheta) . 



On Mast-Head, on the nth October, the first Brown-winged or 

 Panayan Terns were observed on shore amongst the Pandanns 

 roots selecting nesting sites, and many were flushed in the evening 

 from the ground scrub. Afterwards a few were seen flying by day, 

 but by night they were heard by hundreds, judging by their sharp, 

 puppy-like, barking notes and gurgling calls. These graceful 

 Terns apparently arrive after dark to select their nesting-places 

 — merely a hollow on the bare sand underneath vegetation, par- 

 ticularly under the stiff aerial roots of the pandanus palms, from 

 which secure hiding-places queer crooning noises of devoted pairs 

 issued. When daylight arrived all the Brown-wings were silent, 

 and many had departed for sea. However, on Msst-Head wo were 

 too early, by a few days,* for the first of their single eggs. 



Small numbers of Brown-winged Terns were observed at one 

 end of North-West Island. 



White-capped Noddy {Micranous Icucocapillus). 



Mast-Head Island. — Almost everywhere on land, built on 

 bushes or in trees, singly or in clusters, placed on boughs or in 

 forks, were the nests of the graceful little White-capped Noddy, 

 the silvery- white crown of the head contrasting to advantage, 

 especially in the sunlight, with the otherwise dark plumage of the 

 bird. The nests were from 7 to 9 inches across and slightly con- 

 cave, and composed of flat, broad, dead leaves, matted together 

 when moist. The Noddies were not easily disturbed from their 

 nests, allowing observers to pass quite close to them before flush- 

 ing. It was extremely interesting to watch the process of nest- 

 building and the courting of mated pairs, and to listen to their 

 curious frog-like croakings and calls. But the most interesting 

 sight of all was to watch the Noddies going out at early morn to 

 feed in the open seas beyond the reefs. From daylight to sunrise, 

 on easy wing, the birds flew out in continuous crowds, reminding 

 one of the wonderful flights of " Mutton-Birds " (Petrels). Again 

 at evening the myriads of homeward-hurrying forms appeared 

 like swarms of gnats against the roseate-tinted sky as we stood 

 at one end of the island facing the dying day. When we first 

 landed on Mast-Head Island (8th October) none of the Noddies 

 had laid, although many nests were apparently ready. On the 

 nth one egg was found, the following day 36 were reported, and 

 again the next day 84. Afterwards the eggs became numerous. 

 The Noddies lay a single egg only. Noddies were observed on 

 Mast-Head, Heron, and North- West Islands. 



* Drs. Macgillivray and Dobbyn procured eggs 9 days later (20th) at the northern 

 end of the Barrier (see page 220). 



