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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t olive-brown, moderately l)ut boldlyblotched with rich umber and dull grey. Dimensions in inches ofl)roper clutches: A (1) 3-08 x 2-09, (2) 3-05 x 2-03, (3) 2-96 x 2-0 ;B (1) 2-98 X 2-03, (2) 2-97 x 2-0, (3) 2-95 x 2-01. (Plate 25.) Ohservations.—This groat Gull frequents the sea shores of Australia(except, perhaps, the northern coast) and Tasmania. The maturely grown Pacific Gull is always attractive, whether seencircling hawklike on high, or gracefully posed on a pinnacle of jaggedrock. In adults there is no difference of plumage in the sexes, bothbeing snowy-white, with the upper surface of the wings and back black,bills yellowish, blood-coloured at the tip, and eyes most beautiful pearly-white. Total length, about 25 inches; wing, 161 inches; tail, 61inches; bill, 21 inches. The young are not so handsome for the first three vears, remainingin a dull brownish dross of mottled appearance. Tliis I had an oppor-tunity of verifying. During the visit of Mr. Alexander Borthwick, C\-«
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NESTS A.\D EGGS OV AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 863 jimr., aud myself to Phillip Island, Wcsteniport, November, 1884, wesecured a paii- of yoimg Pacific Gulls. One survived, which Mr.Borthwick c:irefully watched through its seasonal moults till 1888, whenit donned full plumage. It tirnied out a fierce, as well as a finecreature, and would go for anything except its master, leaving un-mistakable evidences of its formidable neb on any such soft materialas luiprotected flesh. I am not quite siue wliether I imderstoodMr. Borthwick to say that this bird swallowed holus bolus a clutch ofducklings, but, judging from tlii^ atta-cks made by these Gulls in a stateof natuie on Petrels aud other defenceless birds, it was quite capable ofsuch, aji exploit. Mr. Borthwieks bird, being reared in a Scotchfamily, readily took to porridge, and appeared remarkably fond of it. During the several expeditions of the Field Naturalists Club ofVictoria to Bass Strait, we had ample opportimities of examining thebreeding p

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