Page:The Emu volume 20.djvu/219

 Sternula nereis horni (Mathews). White-fronted Ternlet.—This was a fairly common species on the shores of both Dirk Hartog and Peron. On 24th September I found a small colony breeding about two miles from Denham. The eggs, as usual, were laid in slight hollows scratched in the sand just clear of high-water mark. About a week later several eggs were sent me from Dirk Hartog; they had been taken on the beach within a mile of the homestead.

Onychoprion anæsthetus novæ-hollandiæ (Mathews).—The beautiful Bridled Tern was frequently seen in pairs. Mr. Carter obtained an egg on Slope Island, but I saw no nests myself. In November, 1918, I met a Malay, near Denham, who was carrying a specimen he had just shot. I noted that the iris was white.

Larus novæ-hollandiæ. Silver Gull.—Common and very familiar. There was usually an assembly around the station gallows, both at Dirk Hartog homestead and at Peron. A colony breeds amongst a host of Pied Cormorants at the Quoin BlufY, but the eggs are in much request bv the coloured crews of the pearling boats. I saw only two nests with eggs and a few young in down, hiding amongst the debris on the headland face.

Arenaria interpres. Turnstone.—Small flocks of this species were seen both on Dirk Hartog and Peron.

Hæmatopus longirostris. Pied Oyster-catcher.—More common on Dirk Hartog than on Peron. Several pairs behaved as though they were nesting on the beach to the north of the homestead.

Hæmatopus fuliginosus. Black Oyster-catcher.—A few pairs were seen on Dirk Hartog and Peron, but no evidence of their breeding.

Zonifer tricolor. Black-breasted Plover.—This beautiful but aggressive bird is a comparatively recent colonist on Dirk Hartog. A few years ago several pairs arrived and nested. Since then the species has gradually spread over the island, and is now found in many suitable spots. At the West well, where I camped for some weeks, were nine pairs inhabiting an extensive limestone flat. I put in a day or two at this well on my first visit to Dirk Hartog, October, 1918. I found the species represented by a flock, and I secured a pair of specimens. In general behaviour this Plover reminds me very much of the familiar European Lapwing (Vanellus cristatus). but it is more noisy than the latter, and also more pugnacious. I was unmercifully mobbed whenever I left or returned to my camp. It was very amusing the way the birds flew straight at my face, then quickly swerved off when within six feet of me, keeping up an incessant screaming during the performance. Eagles, Crows. Herons, and even peaceful Terns were impartially attacked and driven away by the Plovers. I was engaged with camp work when my attention was attracted by a pair of Plovers rising from the flat about a quarter of a mile away. They attacked and drove off a pair of Crows, and then returned to the spot from which they had risen. This was repeated when a second pair of Crows arrived. I marked the spot and walked over to it. In a few minutes I found the four beautiful green pyriform eggs. They were laid in a very slight hollow lined with sheep droppings, and surrounded by a few fragments of limestone. I photographed the eggs in situ. During the operation both birds were perfectly quiescent, watching me from a distance of 200 yards or more. Probably other pairs were breeding on the flat