STKBNA. 



357 



, in the, cleft of a rook, without any attempt at forming a nest for 

 its reception. Specimens in the Dobroyde Collection, taken by 

 Mr. Macgillivray on Bramble Cay in 1862, are of a creamy-white 

 ground colour, spotted and blotched all over with irregularly 

 shaped markings of dark reddish-brown and bluish-grey, the latter 

 colour being nearly obsolete, and appearing as if beneath the 

 surface of the shell ; in one specimen, the markings are confluent 

 on the larger end and form a coalesced patch. Dimensions of 

 three average specimens are as follows : — length (A) 1 "67 x 1 -27 

 inch; (B) 1-87 x 1-21 inch; (C) 1-73 x 1-25 inch. 



Hab. Port Darwin and Port Essington, Cape York, Rockingham 

 Bay, Port Denison, Wide Bay District, New South Wales, Victoria 

 and South Australia, West and South-West Australia, South 

 Coast New Quinea. {Ramsay.) 



STERNA EULIGINOSA, Gmelin. 

 Sooty Tern. 

 Gould, Eandbk. Bds. Aust., Yol. ii., sp. 611, p. 408. ^ZT / 



This bird is found all over the coast line of Australia, but 

 particularly on the northern and western shores. Its single egg 

 is deposited in a slight depression in the sand ; specimens in the 

 Dobroyde Collection, taken by Mr. Macgillivray in 1862 on 

 Bramble Cay, whither this bird resorts to breed in great numbers, 

 vary considerably in their markings, the most usual variety 

 found being white or of a creamy-white ground colour, spotted 

 and blotched with irregular shaped markings of dark chestnut, 

 reddish-brown and bluish-grey, the latter colour being very 

 faint and hardly visible. Four average sized specimens 

 measure as follows: — length (A) 2-1 x l-i inches; (B) 2-09 x 

 1-39 inches ; (C) 2 x 1-47 inches ; (D) 2 x 1-45 inches. 



The breeding season of this species in Torres Straits is during 

 the months of May, June, and July, and at Lord Howe Island, 

 from September till the end of January. 



