“This species of Booby,” says Mr. M’Gillivray, “is generally distributed
on the north-east and north coasts of New Holland; but I found it
breeding only upon Bramble Key, although I once, on Raine’s Islet, found
a solitary egg. The nest is slovenly made of dried herbage, a foot in
diameter, with scarcely any cavity, and contains two eggs, of which in
every instance one was clean and the other very dirty. The eggs, which
are white, vary considerably in size. The largest measured 2‑8/12 inches
by 1‑7/12; the smallest 2‑4½/12 by 1‑7½/12, and one of average size, 2½
by 1¾ inches. Both sexes incubate, and the birds while sitting on their
eggs allowed of a very near approach, and before flying off disgorged
the contents of their stomachs, chiefly a species of _Clupea_ or
herring. I need scarcely add that their bite is very severe. During our
visits to Darnley Island I observed several tame Boobies among the
native villages, generally perched on the canoes hauled up on the beach.
These birds were allowed their full liberty, and after fishing in the
weirs upon the reefs until they had procured a sufficiency of food,
returned to the huts.”
Inhabits the north coast.
630. Sula piscator, _Linn._ Vol. VII. Pl. 79.
Inhabits the north coast.
Family COLYMBIDÆ, _Leach_.
Genus PODICEPS, _Lath._
There is no country of any extent wherein Grebes are not to be found;
and as their wing-powers are very limited, they are mostly stationary.
I have elsewhere remarked how beautifully the European Grebes are
represented by those inhabiting Australia, and the truth of this remark
will be rendered at once apparent on reference to the Plates of the
following species:—
631. Podiceps Australis, _Gould_ Vol. VII. Pl. 80.
632. Podiceps gularis, _Gould_ Vol. VII. Pl. 81.
Podiceps Dominicus, var. Lath., Gen. Hist. vol. x. p. 32.
633. Podiceps poliocephalus, _Jard. & Selb._ Vol. VII. Pl. 82.
Family SPHENISCIDÆ, _Gould_.
Of this southern group of birds three or four species have been known to
visit the shores of Van Diemen’s Land and the islands in Bass’s Straits,
which, in fact, constitute one of the great breeding-places of some of
the members of this family.
Genus EUDYPTES, _Vieill._
634. Eudyptes chrysocome Vol. VII. Pl. 83.
Genus SPHENISCUS, _Briss._
635. Spheniscus minor, _Temm._ Vol. VII. Pl. 84.
636. Spheniscus Undina, _Gould_ Vol. VII. Pl. 85.
TABLE OF THE RANGE OR DISTRIBUTION OF THE SPECIES.
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