Mr. A. A. Leycester on Prince Albert's Lyre-bird. 167 
a few days after the Rock-hoppers*. The young Shags attain 
their plumage about the same time as the young Rock-hoppers, 
that is, about the beginning of April. Then they all leave the 
breeding-ground, and the rookery is deserted until the next 
season. 
66. Phalacrocorax magellanicus (6m.). (Common Shag.) 
This Shag is very common along the coasts of the Falklands 
all the year round. It breeds on the cliffs in communities, 
making its nests, of mud and sea-weed, on the ledges of the rocks, 
and laying three eggs, which do not differ from those of the 
King-Shag in appearance. 
It appears to me probable that the thick limy coating which 
covers the eggs of this group of birds is given them in order to 
strengthen the shell. Shags, when disturbed from their nests, 
frequently, even with this additional protection, break their eggs 
with their feet, as I have myself witnessed on more occasions 
than one. 
The young of the Common Shag of the first year are uniform 
dark, nearly black in colouring; whereas the young of the King- 
Shag attain their adult plumage the first year, before leaving the 
Penguins* rookeries. 
XVI.-— Narrative of an Excursion to the Mountains of the Rich¬ 
mond River , New South Wales , in quest of Prince Albert's 
Lyre-bird. By Augustus A. Leycester*. 
In order to ascertain the habits and economy of Menura atberti 
more correctly than I had hitherto done, towards the end of the 
month of April 1859, I made preparations for a shooting-cam¬ 
paign in the brushy mountains of the Richmond River. I first 
installed into my service two of my old favourite aborigines, Billy 
and Davy. The former was quite a young man, and had not 
yet taken to himself a wife; the latter was about thirty years of 
age, and, being of noble family, indulged in the right of two 
wives, one of whom had two children, and the other none. We 
* Communicated to the Editor by John Gould, Esq., F.R.S., for insertion 
in ‘ The Ibis.’ 
