132 ON THE BREEDING OF SOME SEA BIRDS. 



of umber brown (tbicMy at the larger end) over softened 

 primary marking^i of bluisli grey in two shades. In some 

 examples the umber markings are pale and small, and the 

 bluish grey much washed off at the edges. In a few the 

 umber markings take a hieroglyphic form, chiefly round 

 the larger end, and these are the handsomest eggs. In shape 

 the eggs of this Gull vary somewhat, and are either stumpy 

 ovals with a broad end, pyriform ovals, or ovals regularly 

 shaped at each end. They measure as follows : — length, 

 from 2-02 to 2-18 inches ; breadth from 1*45 to 1-69 inches. 



While examining the nests, I found the birds less anxious 

 as to their safety than some species ; they flew round with 

 querulous cries for a little while, and then settled down on 

 the rocks close at hand with comparative unconcern. 



Laetjs Pacifictts, Latham. 



This Gull is a later breeder than the little species. On the 

 31st October there were no nesLs on the Islands ; but on the 

 20th of November I learned that large numbers of eggs had 

 been taken by the Eeeherche people. On the 28th, I only 

 found two nests, as the birds had evidently been driven away 

 from the Islands, owing to the wholesale taking of their eggs. 

 The nests were constructed in the centre of the wild celery 

 plant, which was growing among the smaller rounded boulders 

 near the top of the rocky shore. The centre of the plant was 

 trampled down into a hollow and a few tufts of grass placed 

 in the depression, forming a nest 10 inches wide by 5 inches 

 deep. The eggs of this species are very large and vary 

 considerably in size and shape ; they are usually broad ovals, 

 more or less stumpy at the small end, but some have a 

 pointed or pyriform shape. I do not observe much variation 

 in the ground colour, which is olive grey or pale stone grey or 

 whitish stone colour. The markings are generally small and 

 sparingly distributed over the surface without regard to either 

 end, and are of a pale umber brown, or light sepia in some, 

 over brownish blue spots, blots and specks, these again over- 

 lying primary pale spots of blue grey, Occasionaly eggs are 

 found with large handsome clouds of reddish sepia, overlying 

 faint blotches of bluish grey. A series of five vary in length 

 from 3'0 to 2*69 inches and in breadth from 2'1 to 2*2 

 inches. 



PlTFFINTJS BREVICAUDTJS, Brandt. 



The " Mutton Bird " is said by the inhabitants of Southport 

 to come to the Actseon Islands in vast flocks about the 24th of 

 November, and to commence breeding at once. On the first 

 occasion I visited the Islands no birds were seen anywhere 

 about the Islands ; and on the second (28th November) had I 

 not accidently discovered a " Mutton Bird " in what I took 

 for a Penguin's nest, I should have left with the impression 



