66 Gibson, Notes on. Some Birds of the Abrollios Islands. [,^1 o'ct 



Lesser Noddy Tern {Micranous tenuirostris). — Only one colony 

 was noted, that being on Wooded Island. Here, again, hundreds 

 of thousands of birds were breeding in a mangrove thicket. Each 

 nest contained a single egg or a small young one. Most of the 

 eggs were heavily incubated, laying evidently having commenced a 

 couple of weeks previously (to 12th November). The " Ternery " 

 reported by A. J. Campbell in "Nests and Eggs," p. 856, and 

 visited by him, on Pelsart Island, has been abandoned for several 

 years past, the birds having all left for Wooded Island. 



Panayan Tern [Sterna ancestheta). — A few of these Terns were 

 noted on Pelsart Island, breeding in the open, in company with 

 the "• Sooties." 



Green-backed Silver-eye {Zoslerops goiildi). — Common on ah the 

 larger islands ; had apparently finished l^reeding. 



Spotted Scrub-Wren {Scricornis maculata). — Very common on 

 East Wallabi (the largest island of the group) ; possibly also on 

 West Wallabi. Not noted elsewhere. Had apparently finished 

 breeding. 



Brush Bronze- wing {Phaps elegans). — Noted only on East 

 Wallabi ; possibly also on West Wallabi. Very plentiful. Breed- 

 ing apparently over. 



Spotless Crake {Porzana tabiiensis). — Only one pair of these birds 

 was noted, these being seen on a rocky islet forming part of Rat 

 Island. This record for these birds is, I think, somewhat unique. 



Painted Quail {Tiirnix varia). — These birds were noted in large 

 numbers on the Wallabis only. They had apparently finished 

 breeding, as numerous young birds were noted, but no nests or 



eggs. 



Oyster-catchers (Hamatopus longirosiris and H. unicolor). — Both 

 these birds were observed along the beaches on most of the islands, 

 usually in companies of three to seven. Both species were seen 

 together. They did not appear to have commenced breeding. 



Reef -Heron {Doniegretta sacra). — Odd birds of this species were 

 noted, chiefly on the Wallabi Group. They did not appear to be 

 breeding. 



The list does not profess to be a complete one of all the birds 

 breeding on these islands, especially with regard to the Petrels. 

 Waders of different kinds were common on all the beaches, but it 

 was regretted that no special attention could be paid to them. 



Birds at Essendon. 



By H. Stuart Dove, F.Z.S., Moonee Ponds, Vict. 



This district, with its hills and dales, its river frontage and pond 

 life, its belts of evergreen trees and numerous shrubberies, is the 

 home of, or is visited by, many interesting birds, although so 

 near the heart of the great city. Some, such as the Heron and 

 Dottrel, may be seen once or twice, then depart to other feeding- 

 grounds ; others, like the Reed-Warbler, come down from the 



