( 122 ) 



was qnite brackisli). He also said that the absence of iguanas on InJefatitrable and 

 James Islands was due to the wild dogs, which came down to the shores to eat them, 

 as they also do the turtle and young tortoise. Their boat was made fast to our 

 stern, and after 8 o'clock we turned in. 



Oct. 4. — Had breakfast quite early, at which our visitors joined us ; aud then 

 each i)arty got into their boat and left the schooner, sailing in different directions. 

 We landed at a point quite near, and then collected. The country was very 

 rocky ; a great deal of brush quite green. Birds were numerous, bnt poor in plumage. 

 Altogether theri> were taken :55 that could be saved. In the afternoon we got under 

 way for Barringtou Island. 



Oct. 5. — ( 'ame to an anchorage on the X.E. side of liarrington. After dinner we 

 went ashore on a goat hunt. Found a good trail and fair walking. Went about three 

 miles inland, finding a number of goats, and killed three. Cut oif their hind quarters 

 and brought them down. Noticed for the first time the large land ignauas {('ono- 

 lop/ii/g snljrrigtatus) which live in holes. Killed one large one, which was a dirty 

 white colour. Birds not numerous ; noticed small sandpipers, turnstones, swallows, 

 Certliidca, mocking birds, and two species of Geospiza. There were the remains of 

 quite a large camp on the beach, around which were scattered the remains of iguanas, 

 goats, and seals. 



Oct. 0. — "Went ashore quite early after birds. Found ( 'erthidea quite plentiful. 

 Beck brought in several iguanas, and said that he had 24 more uj^ in the hills, a short 

 way off. After dinner wo skinned birds, while Beck, the mate, and a sailor brought 

 down the rest of the iguanas. The iguanas run as long as 4 ft., and some weigh about 

 10 lb. He found these specimens all in one colony, two and sometimes three 

 in one hole. The holes varied considerably in depth and character — some 1 or 2 feet 

 deep, others running underground 10 feet or so, and then slanting down, say, 5 feet. 

 (Several of the females contained eggs, which were larger than hens' eggs in size. 

 The burrows were in a sandy soil. I examined two stomachs : they contained 

 vegetable matter. They tried to bite when caught. The usual method of collecting 

 was to take hold of the tail, jiull them out of the hole, and knock them on the head 

 quickly with a stick. 



Oct. T. — Breakfast at 0. Soon after, Harris, Hull and Beck started for the shore, 

 leaving me to fix alcohol and skin some 30 iguanas taken yesterday. Finished, say, 

 a dozen or more when the party returned with a snipe, rat, several lizards, and some 

 birds. After dinner resumed work on the iguanas, finishing by 4 p.m. Out of the 

 30 only 5 are males. Of the remainder one-half contained eggs, varying in number 

 from S to 15 : white in colour. Examined most stomachs, finding vegetable matter, 

 principally cactus. 



We had some iguanas and the eggs for supper. They were rather tough, but 

 tasted good. The eggs were all 3'olk, acd like the hen's in taste. 



Oct. 8. — Went ashore early, and started immediately for the " iguana village." 

 Caught 10, which we kept alive, and brought down some dead ones. They opened 

 their jaws savagely when seized by the tail, but were unable to bend their bodies 

 sufliciently to bite the holder's hand. We went on board for dinner, after which we 

 skinned the iguanas, and also some gulls and a booby. At about 4 p.m. hove 

 anchor, and got under way for ('hathani Island by sujiper time. Out of the last lot 

 of iguanas only 2 were males, making only 7 males in all. 



Oct. 1). — lieachid an anchorage in Wreck Bay, Chatham Island, about noon 

 Near to us lay another vessel, a Columbian, whose captain was accompanied by 



