284 Dr. P. H. Baliv : Notes on the 



being tlie first species to make itself known by its clamorous 

 presence. The Pondiclierry Eagle (Hallastur indus) and the 

 Chinese Tern [Sterna sinensis) were noted in the harbour. 



From Colombo to the shores of Australia is a ten days' 

 run over a trackless ocean, and consequently birds of any 

 sort are rarely met with. After crossing the line the 

 nearness of the Cocos Keeling Islands, though themselves 

 invisible, is marked by numbers of Boobies (Sula p/scator) 

 and Petrels, among the latter being a large brown species 

 [Pufinus hrevicauda vel tenuirustris), familiarly known in 

 Australian waters as the " Mutton Bird,'' with which a 

 closer acquaintance was made on approaching the coast. 

 Our proximity to land «as heralded by large flocks of Sooty 

 Terns ( Sterna fa liyin osa) . 



A short trip up the Swan River to Perth afforded me an 

 opportunity of seeing a little of the birds of Western 

 Australia. Conspicuous were the Pied Cormorants (Graculus 

 varius) resting on the harbour buoys, Jameson's Gull [Larus 

 nocce-fwllandice) in mature and immature plumage, and the 

 Australian Pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus) soaring over- 

 head ; but the number of species seen on the sandbanks 

 was not great. I recognised flocks of a large Tern (^Sterna 

 bergii), which henceforth became one of the commonest 

 sea-birds. There were also a few individuals of a smaller 

 species, probably the Whiskered Tern {Hydrochelidun 

 hybrida). The Black Swan, after which bird the river is 

 named, was represented by five seuii-domesticated examples 

 swimming in front of the town pier. 



Albatrosses were not seen until, after passing Cape 

 Lieuwin^ we had entered the Australian Bight. Then two 

 species, the Wandering [Diomedea exv.lons) and the Black- 

 browed Albatross [D. melanophrys), appeai'ed together. 



Like everyone who has seen the former for the first time, 

 I was greatly impressed by its almost unparalleled power of 

 flight. Tbe observer obtains a little idea of the rate at 

 which it is travelling on apparently motionless pinions, 

 when, after lagging behind for a couple of miles, it 

 overtakes the ship with apparently but a single flap of the 



