164 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA 



lose its balance it soon regained its position, hastened, however, 

 by its neighbours, who viciously pecked at it, as much as to say, 

 ' Keep your own ground. ' The nests, as far as the inequality of 

 the ground would allow, were arranged, in symmetrical rows, 

 and were about 30 inches apart. The diameter of the rookery 

 was about 50 yards, and it was circular in shape. The old 

 birds seemed to protect the eggs more fiercely than they did the 

 young, and I had to approach them with considerable respect, 

 requiring the aid of a bucket and fishing basket for them to 

 peck at while I was securing their eggs. Promenading around 

 the rookery and sometimes through the rows were to be seen 

 those impudent scavengers, the Silver and Pacific Gulls, waiting 

 their chance (a very poor one) of taking the eggs and pieces of 

 fish lying about." 



The Masked Gannet. 



Sula cyanops. 



Tropical seas throughout the world. 



White, except the primaries, secondaries and their coverts, as well 

 as the tail-feathers, which are brownish black; chin and upper throat 

 bare. Total length 36 inches, culmen from feathers on forehead 4.3, 

 wing 17.6, tail 7.3, tarsus 2.3. 



Very little lining is used for the nest on the ground, often 

 none; they usually breed on the coral reefs and small islands. 

 The two eggs are similar to the preceding species, and measure" 

 about 2.70 x 1.75 inch. 



These birds nest in large numbers on Raine Island in Torres 

 Strait. 



The Red-legged Gannet. 



Sula piscatrix. 



Tropical and Sub-tropical Seas throughout the world, except the 

 Pacific coast of America. 



White, but primaries and their coverts grey, chin and upper part of 

 throat bare; bill greyish blue. Total length about 29.5 inches, culmen 3.5, 

 wing 15.5, tail 8.6, tarsus 1.4. Young birds brown. 



A flat nest of sticks or seaweed, placed either on the ground 

 or on thick herbage. The single egg is similar to that of the 

 preceding species and measures about 2.35 x 1.57 inch. 



These birds also nest on Raine Island in great numbers. 



