632 MR. P. D. MONTAGUE ON THE 
well-grown examples of typical J. rattus, with long black fur 
and dark grey underparts—not the brown, light-bellied var. 
alexandrinus which is more usually found in such situations. 
They appeared to feed upon small crabs on the shores between 
the tide-marks, and to derive their water-supply from gnawing 
the stems and leaves of succulent plants. Their tracks were very 
noticeable on the sand-hills, in some places forming well-worn 
paths, which usually led to holes in the rocks, where they 
breed. 
The cats which have been introduced into Hermite Island 
appear to be breeding rapidly ; wherever introduced they soon 
become exceedingly shy and wary, and grow to a very large size. 
They will, no doubt, in a few years time have accounted for the 
wallabies, as they have for the bandicoots. If they cannot kill 
a full-grown wallaby—though I am inclined to believe they do— 
they make short work amongst the young ones. 
AVES. 
In the following notes, the nomenclature adopted is that of 
Mr. Gregory Mathews, to whom I am greatly indebted for his 
very kind assistance in identification. The numbers after the 
names given in the notes on the different species refer to 
Mathews’ *‘ Reference List of the Birds of Australia,” 1912. 
LAND BIRDS. 
1, GEOPELIA HUMERALIS HEADLANDI. 50 B. Pale Barred- 
shouldered Dove. 
Compared with the type, these birds agree in all necessary 
detail. The species frequents the more bushy parts of the islands, 
feeding upon fallen berries and seeds. They roost and nest in 
the mangroves, constructing a loose platform of sticks amongst 
the branches, upon which two white eggs are laid. The nesting- 
season is dependent upon the rains, occurring usually in January 
or February, but after a shower of rain on July 8th, 1912, the 
males at once began to show signs of courtship, and by the end 
of the month a small percentage of the birds were breeding. 
Individuals were nearly always to be seen around the well and 
an abandoned water-tank containing brackish water, into which 
they used to fly to drink and bathe. The problem at once sug- 
gests itself as to how they fared before these tanks were built. 
The dews are usually heavy, and the smaller birds were some- 
times observed drinking the dew-drops from the bushes in the 
early morning, but, when the easterly winds are blowing, this 
source fails entirely for days in succession. The only other 
species which frequented artificial water-supplies is the little 
“ finch,” Zoneginthus castanotis roebucki, which visited the 
“ well” on Trimouille in flocks. Although at the time of our 
arrival the well was choked, and several inches of material had 
