The Queensland Naturalist. 
Nov., 1928 
107 
this island we could see an enormous number of Crested 
Terns flying about the shore. The tide was low, and we 
had to walk over half a mile of the worst formation of 
coral reef we ever struck, but it was worth while. We 
came to a place where the Crested Terns were nesting, 
about an acre of ground on the level, above high water 
mark. The sand was literally covered with birds and 
eggs. So close were they that one of our party measured 
off 84 square feet, and counting the eggs in this area 
made it 64. These birds appear white and are about 
the size of a wild duck. The eggs are very large for the 
size of the birds; only one egg is laid and hatched at a 
time. The reason why the birds gather so closely is for 
protection from Sea Gulls. We did not disturb the birds 
more than we could help, and even then many a Sea Gull 
made use of the opportunity and had a feed on the Terns’ 
eggs. The Crested Terns have to stay 011 the nest, which 
is only a place in the sand from the time the egg is laid, 
until the young one can look after itself.' The male bird 
is bringing in food in the meantime, an almost invariable 
habit with all the various kinds of sea birds on the 
islands, and a great swarm of male birds can always be 
seen carrying, out their duties. This is by no means an 
easy task, for when, these birds come home with a fish 
or other food for mother and young, a pirating bird that 
• lives on robbery alone is awaiting. This robber, the 
Frigate bird, is continually hovering over the shores and 
the breeding grounds of the sea birds, and on this island 
above the Crested Terns’ nesting places were seen seven- 
teen of these big robbers. The Frigate bird seems to be 
able to keep up in the air without any effort, from early 
morning till late at night, when the stars are shining, al- 
ways looking out to sea waiting for a bird coming in 
with a fish in its gullet, when at once it sweeps down upon 
it, and to avoid a struggle, the homing bird either swal- 
lows the fish intended for his mate, or gives it up to the 
robber. 
Tli ere are no snakes, frogs, monitors, or even lizards 
on the islands. Insect] life is very scarce, and no flies or 
mosquitoes are present, . only a few spiders and grass- 
hoppers were seen; centipedes are in great numbers. On 
North-west Island quite a number of domestic fowls gone 
wild are running in the bushes. These are believed to 
have got there from a boat, which was wrecked on the 
island 40 years ago. We tried to catch some of the 
chickens, but without result, the mutton bird holes and 
the undergowth giving them ample protection. On Heron 
