VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF HOUTMAN's ABKOLHOS. 471 



[Sterndla albifrons tormenti (Mathews). White-shafted Ternlet. 



Campbell states that he saw a pair of these birds near Rat Island in 

 company with Little and Caspian Terns. He obtained a skin, but appears to 

 be doubtful whether it may not be a young S. nereis. The record needs 

 confirmation, as there is no other record of this species from the southern half 

 of the western coast of Australia.] 



Sternula nereis horni (Mathews). White-faced Ternlet. 



These little birds were seen on practically every island visited, and from 

 their behaviour it seems probable that isolated pairs, or a few pairs together, 

 nest on nearly all the sandy beaches or heaps of dead coral. We only found 

 nests on the east side of West Wallaby Island, where there was a colony of 

 several hundred individuals. The eggs were fresh or very slightly incubated, 

 one, two, or three being the numbers found in a nest. Campbell, Lipfert, 

 and Gibson all found colonies nesting on Pelsart Island. 



Onychoprion fuscata serrata ( Waglev). Sooty Tern. 

 There can be no doubt that this is the most plentiful bird found on the. 

 Abrolhos at the present time during the nesting season. On Rat Island 

 their numbers are prodigious, they nest under almost every bush and in 

 many places also amongst the herbage ; there is also a very large colony on 

 ■ the south end of Pelsart Island and another on Wooded Island. In the 

 Wallaby Group they are not found on the Wallaby Islands, nor on North 

 IsLind, but there are great numbers on all the smaller islands, the Pigeon 

 Islands, Long Island, and Pelican Island. On Rat Island, Wooded Island, 

 and Pelsart Island most of them had eggs at the time of our visit, though a 

 fair number of young birds had already been hatched, but, curiously enouuh, 

 those in the Wallaby Group had scarcely begun nesting, as only one egg was 

 found — on Long Island. 



Melanosterna anjsthetus nov.ehollandle (Stephens). Bridled Tern. 



We only met with a single pair of this species on a small islet off lint 

 Island, and did not find a nest. Gilbert and Campbell both found them 

 breeding in small numbers, but do not state on which island or islands. 

 Lipfert and Gibson found a few nests on Pelsart Island. There is no doubt 

 that this is the rarest of the Larida? which nest in the Archipelago. 



Anous stolidus uilberti, Mathews. Noddy Tern. 



This species nests in very large numbers on Rat Island and the south end 

 of Pelsart Island, whilst there is a smaller colony on Wooded Island. In 

 each case their colonies occur amongst those of the Sooty Tern, most of the 

 nests being built on the bashes, though in many cases they are flat on the 

 ground ; these latter appear to be those of birds which have failed to obtain 



