I 
Vol. XXIV. 
1925 
HOGAN, Birds of If Mis Island 
271 
the island during - the day time- -sometimes very few remained— 
and returned towards evening, and then amid much loud screech¬ 
ing they fought for roosting-places, whether on the bushes, or 
high up on the aerial, or the tops of the masts. During the 
first few months of 1924 their numbers decreased. On the 
afternoon of March 13th there was not a Red-legged Gannet 
on the island, but a few always returned to spend the night on 
the bushes. During April they increased slightly in numbers. 
These Gannets did not nest on Willis Island during the two 
seasons 1 was there, nor was there any sign of nests having 
been built. 
(9) WEDGE-TAILED SHEARWATER (Puffin us pad ficus). 
During our early months on Willis Island “Mutton-Birds 
were very numerous, and it was a common sight to see them at 
night time sitting in groups on the paths, while others were scat¬ 
tered on small sand patches all over the island; and one could 
not get away from the depressing moaning noise made by them. 
The whole of the grassed areas of the island was riddled with 
the burrows of these birds. Several young birds were found 
during February and March, 1923; some of them were killed by 
the land crabs which found their way into the nests. It was 
unusual to see a Mutton-Bird emerge from its burrow in sunlight, 
but on a few occasions they did so; while on January 14th (a 
rainy day) numbers were seen flying about during the afternoon. 
Towards the end of March, 1923, Mutton-Birds were not so 
numerous, and there was very little noise from them during the 
nights; while a month later most of them had left* the island. 
During the 1923-4 season the habits of these birds were similar 
to those of the previous season, and their numbers, judging by 
their noise at night, about the same. The officer in charge 
during the middle of 1923 remarked that he first saw the Mutton- 
Birds on August 27th, about which time they evidently returned 
for the nesting season. As in the previous season a number 
of birds were seen Hying about during the day time towards the 
end of January. Up to May 7th, when we left the island, the 
Mutton-Birds remained, but they were fewer, and their moaning 
noise at night had ceased. 
(10) LESSER FRIGATE-BIRD (Frcgata add). 
During the early pan of the 1922-3 season, it was usual to 
see three or four Frigate-Birds hovering over the island, and 
towards the middle of December they suddenly increased, and 
for a few days they gathered on the island in large numbers, 
among the Red-legged Gannets. It was noticed that at this time 
although such numbers of Frigate-Birds were about, the Masked 
Gannets were free from their attacks. On 'December 24th, I 
found that the Frigate-Birds had almost entirely disappeared; 
none remained on the bushes, and. on walking round the island 
that evening I counted only four. The Frigate-Birds did not 
become numerous again during the season, though up to half 
a dozen could he seen any day hovering overhead, and subjecting 
