File:Nests and eggs of Australian birds, including the geographical distribution of the species and popular observations thereon (1901) (14771233713).jpg

Identifier: nestseggsofaustr02camp (find matches)
Title: Nests and eggs of Australian birds, including the geographical distribution of the species and popular observations thereon
Year: 1901 (1900s)
Authors: Campbell, Archibald James, 1853-
Subjects: Birds -- Eggs Australia Birds -- Nests Australia Birds -- Australia
Publisher: Sheffield, Printed for the author by Pawson & Brailsford
Contributing Library: American Museum of Natural History Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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of itsfamily, being found on islands suitable to its habits in tropical and sub-tropical regions. I could never understand why tiie bird is calledSooty, when all its under parts are white, only the upper surface, as inthe Panayan or Browii-winged Tern, is dark. Although the Sooty Tern is common elsewhere in seas siiiiouiidingAustraha, it is rarely seen on the southern coast. I have seen eggssupposed to have been collected on Green Island, on the FuincauxGroup, Bass Strait, but I liave been unable to obtain conriniiatoryevidence of the statement. It is one of the common sea-birds foundbreeding on Norfolk Island, off the east coast. Gould reports that Gilbeit found the Sooty Tern breeding onHoutmans Abrolhos, December (1839), and Mr. Macgillivray in Ton-esStrait, in May and June (1844?). In the former locality, when the guest of Mr. Broadhurst and hismanager, Mr. Beddoes, I enjoyed my pleasant experience of this bird,which I invariably associated with the Noddy Tern, the latter building
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NESTS AAD EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 845 their nests upon the saltbushcs, while the Sooty Terns were nestingon tlie bare ground beneath. On the afternoon of the 9th December we strolled over Rat Island.What a woiiderfvil revelation! Wliy, the whole place is actually alivewith birds, some breeding on every bush, some breeding vmder thebushes, and some breeding beneath the bushes undergi-ouud. Wordsfail, utterly fail, to convey even au idea of the marvellous scene. Thebirds aie perfectly fearless of our presence. We make our way betweenthe dark-coated Noddy Terns, which cover the saltbushes as well asthe groimd in all directions, uttering defiant, bark-like notes. Othersjust move out of the way with croaking sounds, exposing their singleegg on a seciu-e platform nest of seaweeds. Prolonged guttural screamsissue from underneath the bushes from Sooty Terns, likewise sittingupon a single egg, but on the bare giound, their enraged mates flyingabout our heads, filling the air with squeaking n

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