where we had hoped to procnru examples of the Long-toed Pigeon {Cohimlja 

 trocaz), and only a small collection of some of the more interesting local birds 

 was made. Dnring the da_vs spent at Fnnchal we made oar final arrangements, 

 and engaged the services of one Jose Andrade as co(dc and interpreter. 



On Febrnary 24th the s.s. Fnnchal, a Snnderland-built boat of Ilod tons, 

 left Madeira, and, after two somewhat unpleasant days across a heavy sea, 

 reached Santa JIaria, the most sontherly island of the gronp. The strong south- 

 west wind which had accomjianied ns had blown up a heavy swell, and an ugly 

 surf was breaking on the rocks ; bnt, thanks to the able way in which the boats 

 were handled, we managed to land all onr baggage without damage or loss. 

 Suitable camping-ground was very difficult to find, all tlie country being very 

 wet, and we finally pitched onr tents close to the small village of Almagreira, 

 near the middle of the island. After two days of heavy rain, accompanied by 

 a strong south-west wind, the ground became so saturated that we were obliged 

 to give np the idea of living in tents, and gladly accepted the loan of an empty 

 country house at San Pedro, in an excellent central position. For this act of 

 courtesy and kindness we were indelited to Senhor Albino Augusto Pereira, the 

 Administrator of the island. The advantage of having a good roof over one's 

 head in such a climate was at once apparent, and under these improved circum- 

 stances twice as much work was daily got through as had at first been 

 accomj)lishcd. 



We remained at Santa Maria for a week, and dnring that time traversed the 

 greater part of the island, and worked some really good-looking ground. Tlie 

 lower parts of the island are mostly cultivated, the fields being surrounded by 

 the usual walls of loose volcanic stones and lava, characteristic of all the islands, 

 which make a cross-country journey over the low ground a slow and tedious 

 process. The high gronnd, rising to an altitude of nearly 2000 feet, is steep, 

 in many places very picturesque, and for the most part thickly clad with heath 

 bushes, juniper, faya and other evergreen shrubs, intermingled on the lower 

 slopes with small woods and clumps of pine, and here and there a few gum- 

 trees. 



The undergrowth consists chiefly of bracken, bilberry, and bramble, the last- 

 named often attaining a great size, and, when not quite impenetrable, presenting 

 a formidable barrier to one's progress. Birds were numerous, but the si)ecies 

 represented were disajipointingly few ; with land-shells we were more successful ; 

 and a fair collection of moths, chiefly Gcometridue, was got together. The only 

 butterflies seen were faded and worn examjiles of the Painted Lady i^Pyrameis 

 cardui) and the Red Admiral {Vanessa atalanfn). 



There are some curious fossil-beds found in different parts of the island, 

 some miles inland, and from these we brought home various examples of the 

 Mollusca and Echinoderma, which are said to belong to the Miocene period, and 

 appear to be of considerable geological interest. It is noteworthy that the same 

 species occur in the beds on the Lime Island of the Portd Santo group, to the 

 north of Madeira. 



On March 4th wo left Santa Maria on a small tug specially chartered fo 

 take ns to San Miguel, fift)'-three miles distant, and landed at Ponta Delgada at 

 seven o'clock the same evening. 



Thanks to the letter of recomniendafidn sent by the Foreign Office to the 

 authorities at Lisbon, the King of Portugal had personally interested himself 



