. Nests and eggs of Australian birds, including the geographical distribution of the species and popular observations thereon . ond layingtakes place in Febi-uary. Were a second laying to take place, I fancyGannets would be far more numerous than they are. From my own observations of the Gannet rookei-y on Cat Island,which, however. I had only two brief opportunities of examining, I saw noeggs in unprotected nests, which certainly would liave been the casehad one or the other bird been absent on a fishing cniise, feeding; ofc;ourse, that is presuming both male and female h;id an egg to
. Nests and eggs of Australian birds, including the geographical distribution of the species and popular observations thereon . ond layingtakes place in Febi-uary. Were a second laying to take place, I fancyGannets would be far more numerous than they are. From my own observations of the Gannet rookei-y on Cat Island,which, however. I had only two brief opportunities of examining, I saw noeggs in unprotected nests, which certainly would liave been the casehad one or the other bird been absent on a fishing cniise, feeding; ofc;ourse, that is presuming both male and female h;id an egg to about Gulls and other enemies hovering round foi- unguardedeggs? Moreover, birds were continually coming in from the sea tofeed their brooding mates or young. The meetings were strikinglyaffectionate, the birds kissing and caressing (bird ) in a mostloving manner, and appearing concerned in only one home. With regard to the second laying mentioned by Capt<iin Fairchild,it is quite possible to find fresh eggs of the late laying birds at thebeginning of February without there being a second brood, and that the. H m I w oo H o .VESTS AXD EGGS OJ- AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. ^85 laying seasou merely extends from September to February. 1 havehad fresh eggs from Gannet rookeries takeu respectively iu October,November, December, aud January. I received from Mr. J. C. McLean, of Gisbome, specimens of eggsdated 21st December, 1888, from a Gannet rookery on Kidnapper Cape,near Napier, New Zealand. Mr. McLean visited that rookeiy fivesuccessive seasons. He estimated it consisted of over 300 nests, whichnever contained more than a single egg or young. These nests wereon the gfrouud, and formed of dirt, having a rim composed of a littlecoarse sea^weed, and distant one from another (centre to centre) about30 inches. One measured as follows: width at base, 21 inches; depthoutside, 3 inches; cavity, 9 inches across by 1A inches deep. Mr. McLeanwas also kind enough to send me pliotogiaphs o
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectbirdsne, bookyear1901
