274 
HOGAN, Birds of 11 'HIis Island 
T The Emu 
L April 
were never seen on the higher ground; they confined themselves 
to the beach and the very edge of the grassed area. 
(15) RED-TAILED TROPIC-BIRD (Plucthon rubricaudus). 
A Red-tailed Tropic-Bird was first seen on December 11th, 
1922, and after Hying over the island for some time it disappeared 
across the sea to the southward. During the rest of December 
and the first half of January, 1923, this bird paid almost daily 
visits to the island. These visits occurred in the mornings, when 
it flew backwards and forwards for some time before disappear¬ 
ing again; only on a few occasions was it seen to land, and then 
but for a few minutes. On February 2nd two were seen, and 
from that date until we left, a single bird visited us at irregular 
intervals. 
During the 1923-4 seasons it was not until January 8th, 1924, 
that the Tropic-Bird was seen; on that day two were flying 
about. They repeated their visit the next day, and were then 
absent for about a month. Two Tropic-Birds reappeared on 
February 5th, and thence until May, one or two birds appeared 
at intervals of about one to three weeks. The last occasion on 
which a Tropic-Bird was seen was on April 22nd, 1924. On 
several occasions during these visits, especially during the later 
ones made in April, the bird hovered just above the grass, as if 
to land, but it always flew off again without doing so. When 
it came near the ground it was generally chased by the Noddy 
Terns nesting in the vicinity. 
(16) BALD-COOT, or SWAMP-HEN (Porphyrib melanotus). 
On the evening of December 22nd, 1922, a Bald-Coot was 
seen. The bird lived in the vicinity of our living quarters for 
about two weeks when it suddenly disappeared on January 2nd. 
While on the island it became tamer, and with the Land-Rails 
came up to the door for crumbs, etc. It also drank freely of 
the fresh water put out for the Rails. On January 3rd this 
bird was nowhere to be seen, but on January 17th the same, or a 
similar bird, was seen among the grass between the hut and the 
beach. Not until February 9th was it seen again, on this occasion 
for the last time. 
(17) ORIENTAL CUCKOO (Cuculus optatus). 
During the 1922-3 season an Oriental Cuckoo was first seen 
on January 11th, 1923. For several days it remained on the 
higher parts of the island, flying from place to place in the 
vicinity of the huts. It disappeared after a few days, and was 
not seen again. 
On January 20th, 1924, twelve months later, an Oriental 
Cuckoo appeared on Willis Island. On this occasion it re¬ 
mained for two weeks, until February 2nd, after which it was 
not noticed again. 
(18) TREE MARTIN (Hylochelidon niciricans). 
On the evening of January 12th, 1923, during some heavy rain 
a Tree Martin, attracted by the light, flew into our living quar- 
