WHITE-WINGED PETREL. 
discovered hidden in deep crevices amongst the loose stones, and in one case 
two birds were together. Careful search failed to disclose any sign of eggs 
but, upon dissection, two females taken showed signs of an early intention 
of laying.” 
Again, on p. 256 (December) he found a bird “ sitting in full view amongst 
some vines trailing over the ground, and on removing her discovered her egg 
reposing on a bed of dead cabbage-palm fronds, broken into short pieces and 
piled for a few inches in depth in a hollow amongst the stones.” 
Sitting birds were found in all directions : “In most cases the bird was 
visible, either under an overhanging rock or in a crevice amongst the stones. 
In several instances a cry from under a mass of fallen fronds led to a search, and 
the bird was found nesting amongst the stones beneath. In one place I found 
five sitting birds under one mass of fronds. The eggs were for the most part fresh, 
but several were partly incubated, and two contained feathered chicks. 
“ The sitting birds show no fear, but pecked sharply at one’s hand, 
although the beak is not strong or large enough to inflict more than a slight 
scratch. When removed from the nest they generally fluttered down the gully 
towards the sea, but in some instances returned after going a short distance, 
and sought shelter in a rock crevice.” 
This instance shows well the inaccuracy of crediting difierent subspecies 
of birds with similar breeding-habits. From our knowledge of the nesting 
of P. coolcii Gray and P. nigripennis Rothschild, which are certainly only sub- 
specifically distinct from P. leucoptera Gould, we should also have presumed 
that the last named would be a burrowing bird. Instead, as above, we find it 
to be a surface-breeding form, and from Mr. Hull’s account, never making 
a burrow. Consequently I have not included in this work any habits of 
Petrels save those which I believe have been written from observation of the 
subspecies occurring in Austrahan waters. Investigation into the literature 
makes me anticipate that many of the species noted in Australian waters 
breed on the outlying rocks adjacent thereto, and I foresee rich results from 
the exploration of the rocks in Bass Strait, the islands south of Tasmania, 
and the islets of the Recherche Archipelago and other Westralian island 
groups. Who would have anticipated the discovery of the West Australian 
form of Pterodro7na 7nacroptera ? Yet a study of literature alone pointed to 
some such conclusion. 
i \ 
Note. — ^In my Handlist I admitted Pagodroma nivea, but I can trace no authentic 
occurrence in Australian waters. As it may at any time be captured within the Australian 
limits, I here include a few notes respecting its nomenclature. 
173 
