Vol. XXIV.-l 
1924 J 
GIBLIN, Greater Actceon Island 
133 
As breeding is supposed to begin on 24th November, it is 
evident that the number breeding during the season of 1886 was 
small compared with the number breeding in a good season. 
This may have been caused by the burning off of the grass 
during the breeding season of the previous year, which caused 
the destruction of much bird life. As no sheep are depastured 
here, it is difficult to conceive a motive for this wanton act of 
cruelty. 
Gabianus pacificus. Pacific Gull. A large flock of these fine 
Gulls was flying round the southern point, and probably feeding 
on the maggots on old kelp, of which there was a pile on the 
rocks. Their behaviour did not indicate that any of these had 
young birds on the island, and no old nests were seen. 
Larus novcc-hollandicc. Silver Gull. Several were feeding 
with the Pacific Gulls, but were not so numerous. There were 
no signs* of their having nested during the present season, so it 
is evident that the rookery containing fifty nests and upwards 
at the time of Legge’s visit, has been abandoned, probably as a 
result of the annual collection of eggs. 
Circus approximans. Swamp-Harrier. A single bird was 
seen busily engaged among the Mutton-Birds’ warrens. I had 
no opportunity of seeing what his method of dislodging his victims 
from their entrenched position was. 
Corvus coronoides. Australian Raven. Numbers of Ravens 
were feeding with the Pacific and Silver Gulls at the southern 
point of the island. 
Eudyptula minor. Little Penguin. The remains of several 
half-grown Penguins were lying about, but no birds were seen. 
A flock of some fifty Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris ) completed 
the birds seen on the island. 
In his paper, Colonel Legge reports finding the following 
species, which were not present during my visit:—Orange¬ 
breasted Grass-Parrot (Neophema chrysogastra ) ; Australian 
Pipit (Anthus australis) ; Spinebill (Acanthorhynchus 
tenuirostris ) ; and Sooty Oyster-catcher (Hccmatopus unicolor). 
Of these the Grass-Parrot is by far the most interesting, as 
its name is associated with this island, since Gould found it there 
in greater numbers than about Hobart or New Norfolk. It 
was numerous when Col. Legge paid his visits, and he followed 
Gould in his belief that it nested on the Actions, probably in 
holes in the ground. As the mainland is only a couple of miles 
distant, and there is no water on the island, it is hard to imagine 
that these birds would content themselves with dew. Probably 
they paid only a daily visit to the island for the abundant grass 
seeds, and nested on the neighbouring coast, where there is an 
unlimited choice of suitable trees. As my visit was two months 
later in the season, the absence of this bird does not show that 
it has given up visiting the Actseons. 
