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was laid on the 25th. The hen then began to sit closely,

allowing us to pass within some eight or nine feet of her without

leaving the nest. This favour was not accorded to others. The

hen got up and made for covert the moment that she heard a

strange voice ; and one visitor only (a lady) was fortunate

enough to see her on the nest. While the laying proceeded the

nest was constantly added to. This was continued during sitting

until April the loth, when the nest presented the appearance of

a bulky mass of weeds. The bottom had been raised as well as

additions made. At this date the male was very bold, and was

engaged in picking over the tops of the weeds, apparently

searching for suitable food for the expected chicks. On the I5tli

the male was even bolder, and coolly sat preening his feathers,

regardless of my watching the performance. The next day six

young came off, one egg remaining in the nest. The demeanour

of the male was peculiar, and quite different from the previous

season : he kept away from the brood and appeared to take no

notice of them. Rain followed for two days, and the hen was

continually brooding the young on the nest. When she left it

on the iStli the seventh egg had gone and the hatching numbered

seven birds. The cock was now in attendance, although not

nearly so fussy as in the previous season.


A few days afterwards it was noticed that some bread,

which had been thrown on the water, had been taken into the nest:

it is fair, therefore, to presume that the parents considered it suit-

able food for the 5'^oung. The male was also observed feeding

the hen as she sat brooding on the nest. For a few days it was

noticed that the tops of the irises, which held a booby nest the

previous year, were bent over, and on the 21st the foundations of

a nest were to be seen. The male bird had been constantly

about the place, but the hen had not been near it. Two days

afterwards, the male and two chicks were in this nest, while the

old one was occupied by the hen and the other young. On May

the ist I was surprised to see three eggs in the new nest. Further

eggs were laid daily until the 5th, when absence from home

suspended my observations. Before my leaving, however, the

hen had commenced sitting. Returning home on the 17th, I

found that the eggs had been stolen during my absence. On

the loth it was observed that a new nest had been built among the

sticks near the island, and was nearly ready to receive the eggs.

Further work was done at this new nest, but it was finally

abandoned, and a new one commenced in a much safer position

in a willow clump a little distance from the bank. The next day the

robbed nest was pulled in pieces, and another nest observed on



