270 
HOGAN, Birds of Willis Island 
r The Emu 
L April 
9th many nests contained two eggs. The first young bird was 
found on that day, but up to May 4th no more were observed. 
(7) MASKED GANNET ( Sitla dactylatra ) . 
Masked Gannets on the island were divided into two rookeries, 
the smaller on the beach about half-way down the eastern side, 
the larger, not so compact, was spread out over the large areas 
of bare sand at the northern end. On our arrival in October, 
1922, young were seen in all stages of growth, but no eggs re¬ 
mained. The Masked Gannet was the chief victim’ of the 
preying Frigate-Bird, and when set upon it showed great reluc¬ 
tance to land anywhere but in its own rookery, and it would 
allow itself to be harassed until it found safety there. During 
March, 1923, as the nesting season approached, the Masked 
Gannets were to be seen grouped in their rookeries in pairs. The 
first egg was found on April 14th, and the nest containing it 
was not very far above high water mark, and liable to be washed 
by the sea should heavy weather accompany a spring tide. 
I found on arriving in November, 1923, that the Masked 
Gannets still adhered to their two established rookeries of the 
previous season. All the young were hatched before the end of 
Novmber. As the season advanced the rookeries by day were 
sometimes deserted, but the birds always returned at night. The 
hist egg of the early 1924 nesting season was found on April 
15th. On April 25th a nest was found to contain two eggs, 
but a few days later [ noticed that this nest had been washed 
by the high seas and the eggs destroyed. 
W RED-LEGGED GANNET (Sula sula)* 
1 he hist Red-legged Gannet was noticed on December 1st, 
1922. On December 19th two birds visited the island, but two 
days Idici I found a number of them established at the southern 
end of the higher part of the island, and they maintained their 
position theie for the remainder of the season, it was charac- 
tciistic of them that they never rested on the ground like the 
othei species of Gannets, but perched on small bushes, etc., often 
spending the night on the stays of the masts, the wind-vanes, etc. 
When hist seen on December 21st, Red-legged Gannets were 
intermingled with numbers of Frigate-Birds. The Frigate-Birds 
disappeared a few days later. 
On returning to Willis Island in November, 1923, I found that 
the Red-legged Gannets had increased greatly during my six 
months absence. Many immature birds were seen, but no very 
young ones, nor was there any sign of nests. The majority 
fiecjuented that portion of the island where they were seen the 
pie\ ious season, but increased numbers caused them to spread 
out and smaller groups occupied other parts where bushes 
afforded them a roosting place. (The officer in charge of the 
station during the middle of 1923 mentioned that he noticed the 
Red-legged Gannets first on September 22nd.) These birds left 
S. pUcator of most authors.—‘A.J.C. 
