Birds of Melville Island. 99 



spots ; a few lavender ones are also distributed over tlie 

 surface. Axis 28 mm.^ diameter 21. 



Many old nests were found, similar to the above-described 

 one. They are somewhat like the nests of the Bald Coot, 

 only smaller, but they are large for so small a bird. 



This Crake is rather noisy (in January, at any rate). 

 One has difficulty in seeing it, but Avhen one hears the 

 sound, one must stop, and the bird will come within a few 

 feet of the canoe ; in fact, it is rather difficult to shoot it 

 without destroying the specimen. It moves easily on the 

 reeds, grasping the upright stems, and apparently is as much 

 at home when walking in this manner as when running over 

 the water-liiies and weeds. The birds were seen and heard 

 in the dense growth of sword-grass and rushes on the 

 swampy banks of Jessie Creek, as well as on the big swamp, 

 where it was about one mile from solid land. 



14. Thallasseus bergi pelecanoid.es. Northern Crested 

 Tern. 



Sterna pelecanoides King, Survey Intertrop. Coasts Austr. 

 1826, p. 422 : Torres Strait. 

 Common. 



15. Sternula alhifrons tormenti. Western White-shafted 

 Ternlet. 



Sterna sinensis tormenti Mathews, Nov. Zool. vol. xviii. 

 1912, p. 210 : Point Torment, North-w^est Australia. 

 Common. 



16. Bruchigavia novaehollandise gouldi. Northern Silver 

 Gull. 



Gelastes gouldi Bonaparte, Naumannia, 1854, p. 216 : 

 Torres Strait. 

 Fairly common. 



17. Arenaria interpres oahuensis. Eastern Turnstone. 

 Tringa oahuensis Bloxhara, Voy. ' Blonde,' Sandwich Isl. 



1826, p. 251 : Sandwich Islands. 

 Fairly common. 



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