THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
thousands were in full laying season on Pelsart on 10th November, but the 
principal breeding island was Rat Island. Here the birds were breeding in 
countless numbers, laying being in full swing on 14th November. Only one 
nest was recorded containing more than one egg, it containing a pair.” 
Mr. North*, writing on the Birds of Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands, says : 
“ This bird was found breeding on the rocky ledges and flat parts of the clifls, 
but more often on the bare sand ; little or no attempt was made at forming 
a nest, except in a few instances where a small portion of debris was found 
scraped around the single egg laid by this bird for a sitting.” 
Dr. Metcalfef, writing from Norfolk Island, records as follows : “ It 
commences to lay in September and breeds in colonies, generally on the sand. 
The eggs are sometimes laid so close to each other that one can hardly walk 
between them ; they are also laid on ledges of rock, but generally near the 
water. On Philip Island there is a bit of sandy beach which is always covered 
with these birds. Occasionally one sees an attempt at a nest, such as a few 
twigs or dry grass in a little heap under the egg ; but generally they are placed 
on the bare sand.” 
MacgillivrayJ wrote from Torres Strait, North Queensland, that these 
birds continually moved their quarters on account of the eggs being taken by 
the men who were building the beacon on Raine’s Islet. He goes on to say : 
“ During the month of June, 1844, about 1,500 dozen of eggs were procured 
by the party upon the island. About the 20th of June nearly one half of the 
young birds (hatched twenty-five to thirty days previously) were able to fly, 
and many were quite strong upon the wing.” 
Mr. Beddoes§ says this Tern first appears on Houtman’s Abrolhos in the 
beginning of September, coming in vast numbers for about a fortnight. After 
the young are reared all depart about April. 
Mr. Campbell {loc. cit.) observes : “ In addition to the bird’s usual call 
note ‘ wide-awake,’ a long guttural scream appears to be the alarm note, 
while ‘ squeak ’ notes are uttered in anger.” 
Mr. A. F. B. Hull||, writing of the birds of Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands 
says the breeding season of this bird on the former island is from September 
to November. They assemble to breed in one restricted locality only, the 
North Ridge, a steep slope about two miles to the northward of the settled 
part of the island. 
* Auatr. Mus. Gat., No, 12, p. 374, 1889. 
t Ibis, p. 266, 1885. 
I In Gould’s Handb. Birds Auatr., Vol. II., p. 409, 1865. 
§In Campbell’s Nests and Eggs Austr. Birds, p. 845, 1901. 
II Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., Vol. XXXIV., p. 652, 1910. 
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