^''"iX"^ ] ^ii^soN, Notes on Some Birds of the Abrolhos Islands. 65 



noted breeding, but young birds were common : breeding was 

 apparently almost over. The nests noted (on Rat Island, Easter 

 Group) contained eggs or young birds. 



Allied Petrel {Pnifinus assimilis). — Noted on several of the 

 islands, principally on Wooded Island ; had practically finished 

 breeding, as numerous almost full-grown young were found in the 

 burrows, but no eggs or small young. 



Wedge-tailed Petrel {Piiffiniis chlororhynchits). — Principal colonies 

 were on Pelsart, Rat, and West Wallabi Islands. On Rat Island 

 freshly cleaned-out burrows were noted on 12th November, but no 

 eggs ; on 19th November this island was again visited, and almost 

 every burrow contained a fresh egg. Eggs were also first noted 

 on Pelsart Island about this date. Large colonies on each of the 

 above islands. 



Red-capped Dottrel {.Egialitis riifica pi/la). — Fairly common ; 

 had finished breeding ; numerous young birds noted. 



Tropic-Birds {Phaeton). — Both the Red-tailed and the White- 

 tailed Tropic- Birds have been recorded as seen on these islands, 

 but we did not note any. The fisherman state that it is several 

 years since any have been seen. They used to frequent the 

 Wallabi Group principally. 



Caspian Tern {Hydroprogiie caspia). — Only a few pairs were 

 noted. Breeding was apparently over, as most of the old birds 

 had young (two) "at heel." 



Crested Tern [Sterna bergii). — Noted principally on Pelsart and 

 Wooded Islands ; were in large numbers, but apparently had not 

 started to breed. 



Roseate Tern {Sterna gracilis). — Noted principally on Pelsart 

 Island, where there was a large colony of them ; had not started 

 to lay in November, but I was informed afterwards that they 

 bred in large numbers on Pelsart Island early in December.* 



White-faced Ternlet {Sterna nereis). — Fairly common, principally 

 on Pelsart Island, where a large colony was just commencing to 

 lay on loth November, several fresh eggs being taken on that 

 date. 



Sooty Tern {Sterna fuliginosa). — The principal colonies were on 

 Pelsart Island and Rat Island. Hundreds of thousands were in 

 full laying season on Pelsart on loth November, but the principal 

 breeding island was Rat Island. Here the birds were breeding in 

 countless numbers, laying being in full swing on 14 th November. 

 Only one nest was recorded containing more than one egg, it 

 containing a pair. 



Noddy Tern {Anous stoUdiis). — Also breeding, principally on 

 Pelsart and Rat Islands, especially the latter, where they were 

 laying in hundreds of thousands, in company with the " Sooties." 

 Nesting was in full swing on 14th November on the latter island, 

 most nests containing eggs — or, rather, an egg — as only one nest 

 was noted with two eggs. 



* See also " Nests and Eggs " (Campbell), p. 835. 



