Aves.] 



SUBANTARCTIC ISLANDS OF NEW ZEALAND. 



561 



The nests were built just above high- water line, geneipJly in a fissure in the 

 rocks, overhung with tussock and fern. The nest is made of dry tussock-leaves and 

 is raised slightly above its surroundings. The eggs are three for a sitting, a clutch 

 being shown in the photograph. The bird was seen at all the islands visited by me. 

 At the North Arm of Carnley Harbour, Auckland Islands, we saw one carry a mussel 

 into the air and drop it on to the rocks, when it descended to feed upon the mollusc. 



Hob. — Antarctica, New Zealand, and all its southern islands. 



:mx':jnti!i!:-i^7i.^i&'. 



Fig. 10. — Mackebel-gulls (Lari(s xiopulinvii), Caeklly Hakboue, Auckland Islands. 



Larus scopulinus, Forster. (Mackerel-gull.) 



Larus scopulinus, Forster, in Gray, Dieffenbach's Travels in N.Z., ii, 1843, 



p. 200. 



Even in the immediate vicinity of our seaports this little gull proves to be of 



most confiding temperament, and is much more approachable than its larger relative. 



At the southern islands, where the presence of man is almost unknown, the 



tameness of these birds is striking indeed. The accompanying photograph was 



taken from the shore at the Auckland Islands as the birds paddled past within 4 ft. 



of me. They were my constant companions when fishing, and half a dozen would 



squabble for the bit of bait I threw them. The best illustration of the fearlessness 



37— S. 



