122 



geographical conditions over a period of time to be counted in thousands of 

 years. 



Eudxpiula uiinor ( Forst.) (Little Penguin). Young birds, still with some 

 down on the feathers, were numerous under the rocks and in the midst of 

 tangled masses of low shrubs. It is interesting to note the height above the 

 water and the distance from the sea to which the adult birds travel to lay their 

 eggs. A number of dead Penguins were found amongst the shrubs, but the 

 cause of their death was not ascertained. Towards dusk, the young birds often 

 uttered their peculiar squeaks and were frequently to be seen emerging from 

 their recesses and standing up surveying their surroundings, but within easy 

 distance of their retreats. It was a surprise to find that the only hair seal killed 

 (for scientific purposes) showed an absence of fish in its stomach, but numerous 

 l.alf-grown Penguin's feathers and other evidence of these birds forming its 

 staple, if not entire, diet at this time of year. A young Penguin caught had 

 a rectal temperature of 40° C. Ticks (probably Ixodes pcrcavatits, Neum.) 

 were present on it. 



Sterna bcrgi, I.ichten. (Crested Tern). Fairly numerous. Male bird 

 secured ; iris dark brown ; bill greenish-yellow ; tongue more of a maize-yellow ; 

 legs black. Total length to tips of bifurcations of wings, 44 cm. Span across 

 outspread wings, 92 cm. T., 393° C. Mallophaga present; mites on wings; 

 cestodes in intestine. Several small fish in stomach. 



Lams )wvac-hoUandiac, Steph. (Silver Gull). Numerous. 



Gahianus pacificus (Lath.) (Pacific Gull). A number of these handsome 

 birds, mostly in adult plumage, were present. The reference to large flocks 

 of "albatrosses" in the description of the Pearson Islands given in the "Australia 

 Directory" (1907, vol. i.) unquestionably refers to this species. Professor 

 Wood Jones found a nest here with two eggs on November 25, 1920. A 

 full-plumaged female bird, in attempting to steal a bait, got entangled in a 

 fishing line that had been temporarily left unattended. Iris, white ; eyelid, 

 orange ; base of bill, chrome ; distal third of bill, red with dark grey along the 

 cutting edge ; inside of bill, chrome ; tongue and floor of mouth between rami 

 of lower bill, orange ; gape, orange, except for a narrow chrome-coloured outer 

 edge ; legs, maize-yellow. Total length, 584 cm. Span across outspread wings, 

 134 cm. T., 40° C. Mites on wings. No entozoa detected. Stomach con- 

 tents, part of a rock crab. 



Hacmatopus iinicolor, W'agler (Black Oyster-catcher). Several pairs of 

 these birds were present. One pair in particular returned again and again to 

 a particular spot amongst granite boulders and bare ground as if a nest were 

 in the neighbourhood, but none was found. One bird, a male, was secured ; 

 iris, crimson; eyelid, orange; base of bill, orange like the eyelid passing into 

 pinkish-orange in the distal half; inside of bill, orange; pharynx, flesh coloured; 

 legs, lilac ; toes, maize-yellow. Total length, 52 cm. Span of outspread wings. 

 91 cm.; weight, 652 grms. (1 lb. 7 ozs.). T.. per cloacaui, 41'^ C. ; by stomach. 

 406° C. Mallophaga present; cestodes in alimentary tract. 



Lohihyx novae-hoUandiac (Steph.) (Spurwing Plover). I'hree were seen 

 on the southern part of the island and again on the northern extremity. 



NotopJwyx noz'ae-Jiollandiac (Lath.) (White-faced Heron). A few birds 

 were present. 



Dcmigrctta sacra (Gmel.) (Blue Reef-Heron). Seen by some members of 

 the party. 



Cereopsis novae-JwUandiae, Lath. (Cape Barren Goose). Three of these 

 fi.ne birds were seen flying around the bay as the landing was made, and again 

 on several occasions during our stay. 



Phalacrocorax carbo (L.) (Black Cormorant). A few present. 



