File:Nests and eggs of Australian birds, including the geographical distribution of the species and popular observations thereon (1901) (14771236223).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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iing the Silver Gull con-gregates in great numbers, and resoi^ts to solitary islands or bold, rockyheadlands. I have had many joyful experiences on rookeries of thisSea Gull. My first adveutiue was on Cape WoUomai, Phillip Islaaid,1884, where, on the steep declivities of that frowning headland, our))arty took many eggs. The nests were situated on ledges of rock,dangerous to negotiate on account of the dizzy depths beneath, wherethe ocean swell rolled in, dashing against the cliff, and extremely dis-agreeable because of the pungent aroma arising from fresh guano, whichwhitewashed the place everywhere. Mutton Bird cggcrs and othernesters have so disturbed this once favourite locality tiiat only a fewGulls resort there to breed now. On the west coast of King Island, November, 1887, large-.sized rookeries were observed on Seagull Rock, in Currie Harbour, and ona large, prominent rock near the mouth of the Etlerick River. Manyof the eggs were far incubated. However, wc obtained a few fresh
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NESTS AND EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 801 clutches, while some feathered youug were captiu-ed. November, 1893,we visited another colony of breeding Silver Gulls on the SamphireRiver reef, Franklin Soimd, Funioaux Group. Twenty-one nests wereplaced on the ground, amongst short herbage, at various distances fromeach other, the nearest being about tlurty-four or thirty-five inchesapart. It may be worth while noting here that on the outskirts of thisrookery we foiuid a pair of Oyster Catchers eggs. Gould found a colony of Silver Gulls on Great Actaeon Island,DEntrecasteaux Cliannel, Tasmania, when he visited that place in 1838.Doubtless, a similar colony still exists there, for more recently (1887)Colonel Legge noted one on the south point. But it is strange thatsuch a careful observer as Gould should state that this Gull lays fouror five eggs. On no occasion have I obsei-\ed more than three to anest. On Albatross Rock, off the north-west corner of Tasmania, Messrs.Dudley Le Souef and H. P.

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