2 ZOOLOGICAL LOG OF THE SCOTIA 



Nov. 30th, 18 59' N. 24 20' W. First flying-fish 1 observed. Preserved four 

 which flew on board. Pulmnulina in abundance in the tow-net. 



Dec. 1st, At Porto Grande, St Vincent, Cape Verde Islands. Shark seen 

 outside harbour. Pirie went collecting along the shore and brought back a 

 good collection. We bought several species of fish at the market. A very barren 

 place, and the only bird seen was a buzzard, which people here say act as scavengers 

 of the place and are protected by law. Peridineans observed in tow-net. 



Dec. 2nd, 15 15' N. 25 09' W. Petrels and flying-fish observed all day long, 

 the latter seem to flutter their wings and change the direction of their flight. 2 



Dec. 3rd, 13 07' N. 25 09' W. Several boobies, petrels, flying-fish, bonitos and 

 dolphins seen ; the last two for the first time. 



Dec. -ith, 11 15' N. 25 20' W. Several boobies, petrels, flying-fish and bonitos 

 seen during the day. Caught two bonitos and dissected one preserved the other. 

 Some small PhysaUa in the tow-net. 



Dec. 5th, 9 23' N. 25 31' W. Caught a shark soon after noon, dimensions of 

 which were taken. Sample of liver, brain, etc., of the shark preserved, also two sucker 

 fish adhering to it. Halobates observed in tow-net ; blue copepods plentiful. 



Dec. 6th, T 35' N. 25 32' W. Flying-fish and petrels observed. 



Dec. 7th, 5 25' N. 26 07' W. Flying-fish and petrels. Fitchie pointed out fins 

 of some whales far off. Portuguese men-of-war also seen. Halobates very plentiful 

 in tow-net, and copepods remarkably scarce. 



Dec. 8th, 3 13' N. 26 30' W. Flying-fish and petrels seen. Large flashes of 

 phosphorescence observed at night. Many light blue copepods in tow-net. 



Dec, 9th, 1 42' N. 27 32' W. Flying-fish and petrels seen. Caught some 

 specimens of Velella whilst kite was out. 



Dec. Wth, St, Paul's Rocks, 55' N. 29 22' W. Sharks innumerable. Secured 

 eight specimens, and took dimensions and weight of each, besides preserving one 

 whole, and the heads of two others, one especially for brains and nerves. A school 

 of porpoises seen about 8 A.M. Tried to effect a landing on the rocks, but the high sea 

 running at the time foiled our attempts. Several fish seen but none caught, as the 

 sharks took every bait. Plenty of boobies 3 and terns 4 on the rocks. Observed some 

 boobies nesting : the young ones nearly white. Shot some adult birds of each kind but 

 could not get any young. PhysaUa seen. Velella frequently seen and we secured 

 also planarians and some kind of spawn on a dead Velella. 



Dec. llth, 22' S. 31 00' W. Flying-fish and petrels observed. Tow-net catch 

 very poor, except for foraminifers. 



Dec. \2tli, 2 01' S. 32 18' W. The first large PhysaUa seen this afternoon. A 

 couple of boobies also observed and flying-fish seen in great quantities. 



1 Esocetus volitans. 



3 Observations were made daily on board to attempt to settle the question as to whether or not the 

 flying-fish can use their pectoral fins as functional wings. 



' Sula leucoy aster, * Anous stolitlu* anil Micranous leucocapillus. 



