Eeischek. — On the Islanch in tlic South. 381 



and abdomen yellowish-brown with dark streaks ; tail and legs 

 yellowish-brown ; bill and eyes dark-brown. Total length 

 from the tip of the bill to the end of the tail, Tin. ; primaries, 

 2in. ; tail, Sin. ; tarsus, 0-9in. It is different in its habits, 

 plumage, and size from the uticks of the mainland {Spheuceacus 

 pimctatus and S. fulvus), which inhabit swamps and deep 

 gullies, where they slip about through the fern or raupo like a 

 mouse, mostly keeping on or near the ground. The utick of 

 the Snares lives in the trees, and its movements are similar 

 to those of the bell-bird, which on this island is darker m 

 plumage than on the mainland. On the cliffs were adult and 

 almost fully-grown young of the molly-mawk, the grey-headed 

 albatross {Diomcdea chlororhyncha) and the shy albatross [Dio- 

 mcdca cauta) . The nelly, wath its full-grown young, busied 

 itself in the water. With them were mutton-birds (Puffimcs 

 tristis), diving petrels (Halodroma urinatrix), Cape pigeons 

 (Procellaria capensis), dove petrels (Prioyi turtur), skua gulls 

 (Lestris parasiticus), and mackerel gulls {Larus scopiilinus). 

 Thousands of penguins {Eudyptes pachyrhynchus and E. 

 chrysocomus) were on the rocks, standing like regiments of sol- 

 diers. It was amusing to see Captain Fairchild, who delights 

 in such sport, tumbling them into sacks, to be taken on board 

 for museum purposes. Many of the young were still covered 

 with down ; those full-fledged had a far brighter plumage 

 than the adults. Some disease was amongst them, for heaps 

 of dead were lying about, and the captain and Mr. Dugald 

 came across a perfect cemetery : thousands were lying rotting 

 among the black sand, and the stench was dreadful. I spent a 

 delightful morning, and could have spent a month among the 

 birds, but, the wind freshening, the call was sounded for us to 

 return to the vessel. We got up anchor, and steamed round 

 the whole of the rocks, closely scanning them for any signs of 

 castaway sailors ; but, happily, without result. We then turned 

 away, our menagerie of birds on board bidding farewell in 

 chorus to their mates on shore. These are some of the speci- 

 mens collected. 



The vessel was now pointed towards the Auckland Islands, 

 distant about one hundred and fifty miles S. and 5° W. 

 We had very rough weather, westerly winds blowing with 

 almost hurricane force. I had to work under difficulties, 

 for the vessel would occasionally give a violent lurch, throw- 

 ing me and my tools nearly across the deck, besides giving me 

 a ducking. On the 24th of January we entered the fine har- 

 bour of Port Ross, and anchored not far from the abandoned 

 site of Enderby's whaling settlement. 



The Auckland Islands are a group consisting of one large 

 island and several smaller ones, and extend over a space of 

 about thirty miles in length by about fifteen in breadth. 



