Australian Natural History. » 1477 



dense succulent herbage affording excellent shelter. It is also fond of 

 skulking about the holes in the low margin of coral rock, from which, 

 as well as from the burrows of the mutton-bird, I have taken it with 

 the hand. It runs with amazing velocity, seldom taking to wing, and 

 is very wary. This unwillingness to rise from the ground enabled us 

 to procure great numbers for the table, by means of a kangaroo-dog, 

 which became very expert at finding and catching them. In one day 

 not less than forty-five were killed by the dog or taken with the hand. 

 Several individuals, more or less variegated with white, one very 

 largely, were met with. 



Erodias, two species. Some white and blue herons frequented the 

 reef, and probably are permanent residents, judging from some de- 

 serted nests and fragments of eggs which I saw. 



Charadrius Virginianus and Strepsilas Australis, occurred in 

 small numbers, but were not found breeding. 



Xema Jamesonii. Of this beautiful gull, which appears to inhabit 

 all the Australian coasts, I saw only a few pairs. 



Thalasseus strenuus ? This fine tern, which I had formerly found 

 breeding on Lizard Island, occurs on Raine's Islet in small parties in 

 three spots only, upon the low ridge on the south side of the island. 

 It is rather shy, so much so, that I could not obtain specimens with- 

 out the aid of the gun. It breeds upon the bare smooth spots sur- 

 rounded by herbage, and deposits a solitary egg in a slight hollow 

 scooped out of the ground. 



Tlialassipora fuliginosa. Breeds, mixed up with noddies, in large 

 colonies. After we had been living about ten days upon the island, 

 and the sooty terns had had their nests robbed repeatedly, the breeding 

 birds collected into two or three large flocks, and deposited their eggs 

 in company, shifting their quarters occasionally upon finding them- 

 selves as much molested as formerly. I have seen the poor creatures 

 dropping their eggs within two yards of where I sat, apparently glad 

 to get rid of their burthen at all hazards. 



Anous stolidus. Unlike the sooty tern, the noddy constructs a re- 

 gular nest, varying in composition and locality. The nest is placed 

 either upon the bare ground, or on a tuft of grass or other herbage, 

 formed of small twigs, over which are scattered a handful or more of 

 fragments of coral of all sizes up to several inches in length, also 

 shells, and occasionally other matters, such as fragments of turtle- 

 shell, turtle-bones, &c, in short, any miscellaneous article which 

 comes in the way. 



Phaeton phaenicurus. During my stay on Raine's Islet, about a 



