( 89 ) 



.Tahi 'l\. — Quite cool this morning ; birds becoming quite abundant, indicating 

 approach to C'ulpep])ev Island. Should be off the island to-night. 



Jubj 2,"). — Cloud}- this morning, and no island in sight. Quantities of birds 

 indicate onr nearness to island. Birds seen : Gulls, terns, petrels, shearwaters, 

 tnrnstone, man o' war, boobj-. A flycatcher came aboard, and I canglit it with a 

 net (^Mt/iurchui ma<inirostris). The island was sighted b}' (Japtain Lenbridge at 

 3.3.5 p.m., fifteen miles N.E. After supper we drew near very rapidly. Found 

 it very abrupt. The north side looks like an immense wall of masonry, each layer 

 of rock six feet thick ; on west side is a peculiar dome-shaped rock ; on east side 

 is a reef terminating with an arched rock of considerable height. There are 

 apparently bushes and cactus on top of island. 



Thousands of above-mentioned birds are circling about the islaml ; their cries 

 are literally deafening ! The rocks are whitened and streaked with the excrements 

 of the birds. We will lay by the island all night if there is no anchorage. Birds 

 are very tame. Every one is well, and impatient to begin work. 



Jubj 20. — Last night drifted to the southward of Wenman Island, and at 

 daylight the Captain headed for it, thinking it was Culpepper. 



We reached Culpepper at 8.3U. 



Hull and myself went ashore. Found marine iguanas abundant. Frigate- 

 birds breeding (one egg collected). P/iffiniis siihalari,^ was breeding (eggs collected). 

 This bird lays one white egg, and nests in little holes under rocks and in the cliffs ; 

 and it also seems to take pains to seclude. The birds are very tame, allowing one 

 to take them from the nest with one's hands. The Atwtts galapaf/oensis lays a very 

 prettily spotted egg, and nests in similar places, but more openly. Occasional 

 sticks and feathers in the nest. Creagrus furcatus was breeding. We fonpd no 

 nest, but took a misplaced egg. No doubt plenty were on the top of the island. 



Killed one ProceUariu. Red-footed * and blue-faced t boobies both Ijreeding. 

 Ground doves very abundant and excessively tame. Mocking birds {Xesomlinus) 

 and Ih-mlroica abundant. Two or three species of Oeospiza observed and taken. 

 Shot a turustone. Hull shot a cub fur seal. More seen. Two species of crabs 

 seen. Put up twenty-five skins after returning to vessel at 2 o'clock. 



July 27.— This morning all hands at work ; put up twenty-seven skins and the 

 cub seal. In the afternoon all went ashore and worked on the east edge of the 

 island. It is the only part of the island that can be worked. I killed a large 

 brown hair seal, but from lack of time did not save it. Beck and Drowne killed a 

 number of birds, among them two beautiful tropic birds {Fhu}thoii ui'thereus). 

 Took eggs of frigate bird, tern and shearwater. The black-capped ternj is extremely 

 abundant at this island. There are thousands of them, and they appear to be breed- 

 ing on the top of the island. We did not observe them outside of thirty miles 

 from the island. No chance whatever of reaching the top of the island. The 

 frigate birds are very bold, one swooping down and pulling off Beck's cap. 



July 2s. — All hands put up fifty skins to-day. 



Julij 29. — All a.shore collecting to-day, returning about 3.3ii. I'nt up twelve 

 skins. Intend to leave for Wenman with first wind. ( 'aim now. 



The formation of Culpepper Ishmd is volcanic rock and sandstone. Vegetation, 

 several species of vines, bushes, and cactus. Fur seal ; 2 taken. Hair seal ; 2 shot, 

 not saved. Reptiles, iguanas ; 2 taken, put in alcohol. Of insects we saw flies like 

 the common house fly. There were several beetles taken from stomach of dove, but 



* SulajtUcatrij; tcffintei't. f Sula varli'tjaia. % Sicrna fulufinona. 



