390 



ORNITHOLOGY. 



the shell. Where there are no trees, the points of the coral rocks 

 furnish a common substitute for the branch of a tree, selected in more 

 favorable situations." 



The remarkable fact of the deposit of the egg of this species on the 

 branches of trees and in other exposed situations, is confirmed by Mr. 

 Gould, in his Birds of Australia, and by other authors. 



In the Journal of Dr. Pickering, we find frequent allusions to this 

 bird, which is apparently one of the most abundant of the species 

 found inhabiting the islands of the Pacific. He mentions it especially 

 as common at Sydney Island, under date of August 26th, 1839, and 

 alludes to a specimen having been obtained living. " It is," he says, 

 " more of a perching bird than the true Terns, though its feet appear 

 to be more fully webbed than I remember to have seen in them. The 

 voice of this specimen was a faint low growl, not often uttered, and 

 when annoyed, would snap a little with its bill, distinctly raising the 

 upper mandible, but was, on the whole, very gentle. It is a beautiful 

 bird, and reminds me rather of a snow-white Dove than a sea-bird." 

 Previously, under date of August 19th, at Gardner's Island, he states: 

 " The White Tern is abundant here, and its egg has been found for 

 the first time. It was placed in the fork of two branches of a tree, 

 without any semblance of a nest, and is the smallest egg of a sea-bird 

 that we have yet found ; it is of a dull white color, thickly mottled 

 with dark brown, and obtuse at each end." 



This beautiful little species appears to be peculiar to the Southern 

 Hemisphere, and is known, for the greater part, as a bird of the South 

 Pacific Ocean. Excellent specimens are in the collection of the Expe- 

 dition. 



EGG OF G Y G I S ALBA. 



