THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
Nestling. With the type of 0. montana, Mr. Hull kindly forwarded me a bird which still 
retained the grey down on the abdomen. This specimen shows the characteristic 
mottling of the face, and agrees entirelj^ in coloration with the adult, save that the 
shades appear lighter or darker than they do in the adult, owing to the wearing ; thus 
the secondary wing-coverts are lighter, while the median coverts show darker, the 
lesser again appearing lighter, etc. The dark tips to the feathers of the under surface 
are somewhat paler. 
N esting- place. “ In burrows, some as much as six feet in length, and mostly constructed 
where the ground was wet. No nest was found in the open, but plenty existed 
under the overhanging boulders in inaccessible positions.” (Hull, Lord Howe 
Island.) “ In burrows ” (Hunter, Norfolk Island). 
Nest. “ Was a large accumulation of cutting grass, in which the egg was almost concealed ” 
(Hull, Lord Howe Island). 
Egg. “ One egg only is laid at a sitting. Those procured are mostly stout oval in 
form, some being more pointed than others ; colour soft dull white, with large, 
shallow irregular pittings . . . 2'6-2'4 by 1'96-1’86 . . . Average dimensions of eight 
eggs 2'52 by 1’9.” (Hull, Lord Howe Island.) 
“ They lay but one egg, and that is full as large as a duck’s egg ” (Hunter, 
Norfolk Island). 
Breeding-season. “ July and August ” (Hull, Lord Howe Island), 
“ Eggs, June 3rd, 1910” (Hull, Lord Howe Island). 
“ Most of the females taken in May were with egg ” (Hunter, Norfolk Island). 
The re-discovery of this long-lost Petrel is one of the most interesting events 
in the annals of Australian ornithology, and is entirely due to the enterprise 
and research of Mr. A. P. Basset Hull, whose investigations into the Petrel 
a\dfauna of East Australia are bearing such rich fruit. 
Having described (Estrelata montana^ Mr. Hull sent me the type-specimen 
for examination and report, especially requesting comparison with the Norfolk 
Island specimens obtained by Mr. Crowfoot, if I could by any means trace 
the same. It is with the greatest pleasure than I am now enabled to give a 
full account of the history of this bird, and I must point out that it is only by 
carefully and slowly working that such a complete exposition can be achieved. 
Intricate matters such as this cannot be dealt with unless time is allowed, and 
every facility granted. I am sure that the results attained will be recognised 
as worthy of the time expended. Had it not been for the receipt of Mr. Hull’s 
specimen, it is very probable that no such recognition would have been achieved. 
In the Gen. Synops. Birds, Vol. III., pt. n., p. 408, Latham described a bird 
said to inhabit North America as follows : — 
Black-toed Petrel. Lath. 
Length thirteen inches ; bill an inch and a half long, black ; all round the base of the 
bill, the chin, and throat, pale silvery grey, marked with minute dusky specks ; top of 
the head, and all the upper parts of the plumage, wings, and tail, dusky black, inclining 
to hoary on the back ; tail roimded at the end ; wings and tail even ; the under-parts 
of the body hoary ash-colour ; legs very pale ; the webs for one third the same, the 
rest to the end black ; joints of the toes black. Said to inhabit North America. 
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