BY COL. W. V. LEGGB, E.A., P.Z.S. 129' 



shaped islets, joined by narrow isthinuses, or raised 

 pebbly beaches, \nd were probably, at no distant date, 

 separated from o e another. The most northerly of the 

 three is by far the argest, measuring about 600 yards long 

 by 300 broad, with an altitude of about 60 feet. On the 

 east the sides are steep, but composed of deep black, guano-like 

 mould, clothed with rank vegetation and Barilla bush. Here 

 the Penguim; 'id Mutton Birds, Puffinus hrevicaudus, breed, 

 burrowing to "r considerable depth in the soft earth, beneath 

 the surface of which masses of tussock-grass are to be found,, 

 not yet decayed. This arises from the constant excavations 

 made by the birds, at the mouths of which quantities of soil 

 are thrown out year after year, resulting in the covering up of 

 the tussocks. The two smaller islets are very low, scarcely 

 rising above the top of the shingly beaches, and in the centre 

 of one there is a depression. They are densely clothed with 

 Barilla bushes, brackens, and rank vegetation of much 

 variety, the droppings of the birds leading, of course, to this 

 luxuriant growth. 



I was unable on both trips to visit the Little Actaeon 

 Islands, owing to the heavy swell that prevailed ; this is the 

 better locality of the two for the breeding of sea-birds and 

 was the spot where the eggs of the Sea Eagle, H. leucogaster, 

 were found by Mr. Graves some years ago. The islet is very 

 low and appears to be more shingly than the Great Actseon 

 with somewhat less overgrowth. 



The height of the breeding season in most years appears 

 to be about the 30th of November. At that time both species 

 of Gull and the short-tailed Petrel are breeding in the 

 greatest numbers ; though the Terns, S. PoKocerca, and Black 

 Oyster-catchers, H. unicolor, probably nest a little later. 



The following species are known to breed, or to have bred, 

 on the islets above-mentioned : — 



H.lH^TTJS LEUCOGASTER, Gmelifl. 



A nest of the grey-backed Sea Eagle was found on the 

 Little Actseon three years ago at the end of November. 

 The nest was a large structure of sticks and sea-weed placed 

 on the ground. A similar position is chosen by this Eagle 

 in the islands in the Straits where there are no trees. I have 

 seen its nest on the Scamander Eiver at the top of a high 

 gum, and in the tropics it invariably builds on trees both 

 inland near " tanks " and on the sea-coast. My observations 

 of the eggs in Ceylon testify to the shape being variable, 

 some being very round while others are long ovals or pointed 

 at one end. The colour is dirty white, and by my measure- 

 ments are 3-17 to 277 inches in length by 2-18 to 2-02 

 inches in breadth. I have taken several nests of this species 

 and always found it somewhat cowardly in its behaviour,. 



I 



