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yonng B/iforirks ; no adults seen. A few black-capped tern taken oflF the island — not 

 resident. Bird life not as abundant on Weiiman as on Culpt'pper. I noticed tliat 

 the Geospiza are carrion-feeding birds, eating from dead carcases of seal ; also 

 observed them feeding on vermin on the boobies, standing on the feet and backs of 

 the boobies for that pnrpose. Many old nests of Geospiza and mocking birds were 

 seen, but none found breeding. 



Aug. 5. — Worked all day on skins, eggs, turtle. Abingdon Island not sighted. 

 Have been heading S.E., but current drifting us N. 



Aug. 6. — Calm all day. Have drifted N.W. to a position E. of N. of V\\\- 

 pepper at noon. 



Aug. 7. — Foggy all day. No observation. Probably S.W. ol' ('ulpei)per, 

 as we have been heading that way. 



Aug. 8. — Still calm and foggy. We are somewhat N.W. of N. Albemarle, in 

 long. 93 or 94. 



Aug. 9. — Made some S. and E. to-day. Baw some flocks of turnstone. 



Aug. 10. — A good wind from 12 m. to 5 p.m. brings us in sight of N. Albemarle- 

 It is very high land. Wind dies out about 11, and we drift N. again. 



Aug. 11. — Calm during the morning. Albemarle in sight part of the time. A 

 light wind during afternoon and night ; if it continues bids iair to bring us to 

 Abingdon by morning. Saw a large bird, dark, with spread of 4 or Tj feet, flight like 

 an albatross. (Note. — We saw nothing like it afterwards.) 



Aug. 12. — Abingdon in sight on getting up in the morning, 12 to 15 miles away. 

 Arrived off the west side of the island about 11.30. As soon as dinner was over, 

 the mate took a boat and made soundings, and at 4 p.m. we anchored in 8 fathoms, 

 IJ mile north of Cape Chalmers. Bottom coarse sand and rock. Hair seal very 

 tame. Several turtle seen. I shot a pelican with a rifle as it flew by. 



Aug. 13.— Abingdon Island. All bauds started at (i.3il iu the small boat, and 

 lauded north of vessel. I instructed each man to collect about twenty birds, and be 

 back at the boat at 11. Drowne failed to show up. Search was instituted, and at 

 about 3 p.m. he was found by me on opposite side of island. He was well exhausted 

 and scratched. He had got lost, and lost his head. 



Aug. 14. — Browne's escapade yesterday knocked us out a whole day. We luid 

 to put up yesterday's birds, saving about seventy. 



Aug. 15. — In the morning all went ashore. Hull and Drowne gatliered 

 urchins and shells, while I collected about fifteen birds. In the afternoon took care 

 of the birds. 



Aug. 10. — Beck, Hull, and myself collected on south end of the island, landing 

 at Cape Chalmers. Very rough climbing about, and birds not as plentifnl as on 

 the north end. Drowne cleaned shells, etc., while we were going. Put up birds in 

 the afternoon. Deserted nests of small birds very plentiful on south end. I note a 

 number of trees have been cut down on the south end, probably by people from 

 vessels. 



Aug. 17. — Again collected on the north end, and in the afternoon put up our 

 birds. 



Aug. 18. -In morning collected the north end. At 2 p.m. hoisted anchor and 

 sailed for Bindloe. Good wind. Put up sixty-five birds in the afternoon. 



The north end of Abingdon is bare lava, the sontli end covered with vegetation 

 as follows : A wild cotton bush, liearing a beautiful yellow flower ; a tree cactus, 

 with smooth trunk, some 2 ft. througli, some 15 ft. high. Tlu; Geosjiiza pick holes 



