202 Mr. R. Hall 07i Birds 
The day of the vast flocks referred to by Gilbert in Gould's 
' Handbook ' is past. When guano-workers cease to frequent 
the islands, and the introduced cats allow the lizards alone 
to work havoc there, the former state of affairs may return. 
66. MicRANons texuirostris. Lesser Noddy. (HalFs 
Key, p. 89.) 
A, B. Sk. ad. ^. 17.10.99. Long Island, Pelsart Group, 
Houtman^s Abrolhos. 
C, D. Nestlings. 27.10.99. Long Island, Pelsart Group, 
Houtman's Abrolhos. 
On Long Island were two small mangrove-swamps, one 
with many old nests and a few birds sitting upon eggs, the 
other containing those of the birds fully engaged in the 
task of incubation. There were approximately a hundred 
nests, eacb containing a fairly fresh egg, on the 17th of 
October. On the 27th two of the nests contained young 
some three days old. 
Description of nestling. — The young at once assumes a 
likeness to the parent : the edges of the upper and lower 
eyelids are bordered by a line of white down; the under 
wing is whitish ; the forehead, nape, and crown are covered 
with clear greyish-white down, the cheeks being less 
distinctly white ; the bill and eyes are black ; the nail of 
the bill is pure white ; the legs and feet are brownish black. 
In the adult skins secured, the third and fourth primaries 
(from the outside) give equal measurements. 
Nest. — The material from which to choose for a nest is 
limited, consisting only of a few land-weeds (salt-bush or 
occasional herb) and a marine weed or two. The former 
would not suit the manner in which the loose material is 
placed, hanging from so poor a support — a basis that is not 
broad enough to hold stems that are not interwoven. As 
the bird does not care to adopt the practice of nesting on the 
ground, it is scarcely optional to use aught but seaweed, to 
withstand the wind. Rhodophycece are chosen from the 
beach, and, being fascicular, they hold together when placed 
on an irregular fork. How the season affects the gathering 
