Section XII. St Helena, Ascension, and between. 

 By L. N. G. RAMSAY, M.A.. B.Sc. 



THKRE is not much of importance to be recorded of this section of the ,SV//Vx voyage. 



A few days were spent tit each of these two oceanic, islands, and a few specimens of 

 their scanty avifaunas were obtained. During the voyage between, the tropical seas 

 were devoid of bird-life, except for a few gannets seen as Ascension was neared (the 

 first were observed between one and two hundred miles from the island). 



St Helena (lat. 1(5 S., long. W.). The Scof! touched here from May 30th to 

 June 2nd (1904). Specimens of three species of birds wen- obtained, viz. : Anon." 

 stolidii.f (L.) (several adults), <r'i/;/in rnndiiln (Gin.) (three), and (.'<n-<-nl>is .r<tt(li.>i, 

 subsp. <// n/cur (( Jray) (one). The last is a species of lled-legged 1'tirtridgc introduced 

 into the island. 



Asci'iix'nni (lat. 8 S., long. 14 \V.). -At this island the S>'tm lav from 7th to 

 10th June. 



One of the sights of the island is the " Wideawake Fair," or breeding-ground of the 

 "Wideawakes" (Stcnix l'iiH</i,inx<i}, millions of which arc said lo nest there. The birds 

 were absent at this time (although some were seen during the first day's sail idler the 

 Scotia left the island), but great numbers of their corpses strewed the giound. A dozen 

 eggs of these terns were kindly presented by Mr Chalmers of the Eastern Telegraph Co. 



On June 10th, while the Nr/m was trawling oil' Pyramid Point before leaving, 

 Mr Wilton landed from a small boat on a rock near the shore and found gannets and 

 noddies busy in bringing up their young. The. eggs were laid on the bare rock, no 

 nests being built. Some of the gannets had fresh-laid eggs, others had ehicks, sonic of 

 which were big birds almost ready for Might. No eggs of the noddy were seen, hut 

 some young birds unable to rly were caught. Thev were much infested with lice. 



The specimens from Ascension include : 



Xitfa sula (L.). Three skins, immature. 



S. cyanops (Surnl.). Three skins (two adults and an immature bird in dark brown 

 plumage). 



S. piscator (L. ). Two skins (one adult, one nearly so but with traces of brown in 

 the mantle). 



Anous stolidus (L.). Five specimens, including a half-grown youngster. 



Fregata aquila (L.). Two skins (adults). 



Sterna fuliginosa (>\\\. Two carcases in spirit, much damaged. 



VOL. IV. -:'.! I- 



