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Aoor touches at Flores eveiy month, and at Corvo every third month ; bnt 

 as we could not possibly devote a mouth to these islands, and wished to limit 

 our visit to eight days, it seemed probable that we should have to hire a tug — 

 a very serious consideration. 



In this dilemma Major Chaves once more came to our assistance, and 

 suggested that, as the King had issueil commands that we were to be helped 

 in every way, he should telegraph to the Civil Governor at Horta and ask for 

 the loan of the gunboat At'or. To our great satisfaction a telegram informed us 

 that the boat had been placed at our disposal, and that it was only necessary to 

 state on what day she was rei[nired to be at Flores. Early on March "JSth we 

 anchored off Angra, the capital of Terceira, and after breakfast got our baggage 

 on shore and called on Senhor Jos6 de Sequeira, to whom we had letters of intro- 

 duction from Major Chaves and from Bensaude & Co. He proved most kind and 

 businesslike, for he had not only secured for us the loan of the Quinta de Nasce 

 Agua, with its capital house on the best part of the island, but had made all 

 arrangements for transport, so that we were able to settle down in our new 

 quarters and get to work without delay. During fourteen days spent on Terceira, 

 we traversed the greater part of the island and collected on very varied 

 ground, paying special attention to the jnne woods in the hope of coming across 

 the Little Woodpecker, said to have occurred there also. We, however, fonnd no 

 trace of it. Up till now we had not been able to secure a single Buzzard, for 

 though we had seen plenty, they were so wild and wary that no chance of shooting 

 one had occurred. Unfortunately I was without my small-bore ('-J-oO) rifle, which 

 would liave greatly simplified matters. At Terceira, however, we were able to 

 alter this state of affairs, and in ten days secured seven very fine birds, and 

 before the end of the trip increased the number to twenty-three. The Wood- 

 Pigeon, another desideratum, occurred in scattered pairs, and we managed to 

 secure eight, apparently the only ones in our neighbourhood. The bird a])pears 

 to be smaller and darker than the Common Wood-Pigeon, and the flesh has a 

 delicious flavour, probably due to the oxalis bulbs, on which it chiefly feeds. 

 AVhile here we were fortunate enongji to trap a large Weasel, which appears to 

 be of special interest, and most nearly allied to the species fonnd on the island 

 of San Thom^. According to the natives it is a rare animal, and substantial 

 rewards subsequently offered failed to produce further examples. (Two more 

 examples have since been forwarded from Terceira by Mr. Chassereau.) Insects 

 were becoming more plentiful, and the flowers of the faya-trees, then in full bloom, 

 yielded a number of Noctnae, etc. ; but sugar proved a complete failure, though 

 we persevered night after night. Shells were numerous and varied, and in this 

 branch our collection was rapidly augmented. It was with great regret that we 

 left our charming house at Ueguinho on the evening of April loth and went on 

 board the mail-boat Acor, r// route for Corvo and Flores, for though the weather 

 had often been wet and misty, we had altogether spent a very enjoyable and 

 profitable time. Food was cheaper at Terceira than it had been at San Miguel, 

 and local gunners were always glad to supply quails at 2/1. each, woodcock at 

 4ir/., and rabbits at Ge/. 



The Ai;or first visited Graciosa, where we landed for a couple of hours and 

 made arrangements with Mr. Filij)pe Andrade for our subsequent visit to that 

 island. We then proceeded to call at (Jnlheta, San Jorge, bnt after remaining 

 there for some hunrs, during wliic^h it was only possible to land the niiiils, it came 



