LOG OF THE ARCTURUS 397 



was seen ten miles from shore. At 10 a. m. sounded in 710 fathoms 

 and found temperature of water ranging from 82° at surface to 47° 

 at 500 metres. This latter is six or seven degrees colder than at 

 the Current Rip, so perhaps we are entering the Humboldt Current. 

 There were many shearwaters about, one flock of twenty-five fishing 

 in one spot. Anchored a mile off Conolophus Cove in early afternoon. 

 Much fishing done, and eighteen or twenty species taken on hooks 

 from stern and boom-walk during afternoon. In the evening at the 

 gangway halfbeaks, puffers and so on came to the light, and many 

 megalops and zoea, as well as stalk-eyed shrimps and copepods were 

 secured. 



April 6th. Everyone ashore and a real home-coming sentiment 

 strong in those of us who were here three years ago. The place is 

 as wonderful as ever, — one place in the world that remains unchanged. 

 Renewing old acquaintance with Conolophus, Amblyrhynchus and 

 other first families. The pelican colony is small but flourishing, as 

 one nest contained four eggs. Another nest with two and one with a 

 single egg. Several unfinished nests. Also found a yellow-crowned 

 night heron's nest with three eggs, and saw oyster-catchers which 

 seemed to be breeding. Seining on the beach just as we used to 

 do, while pelicans, coming home from fishing trips, stooped on the 

 wing to look at us curiously, not more than arms' length above us 

 as we splashed and tugged at the nets. Saw a noddy tern alight 

 on the head of a pelican without eliciting any protest. 



To the astonishment of the old-timers, it rained heartily this morn- 

 ing from eight to ten. 



April 6th. Through the glass-bottomed boats, as we row about the 

 bay, we can see hosts of fish, blue and yellow, green and red, ming- 

 ling with less gaudy ones. Rain again this morning. Even in the 

 Galapagos it is always an unusual season ! Most of us swimming for 

 hours, and seining on beach. An expedition to a beach to the south- 

 ward brought back four adult skulls of Pseudorca and one young 

 skull, with many bones. Turnstones, black-necked stilts and tattlers 

 are running along the beaches, while mockingbirds and finches are as 

 numerous as ever. Goats seen in the distance but they remain the 

 only wild things on this Island. 



Everyone groaning with sunburn to-night. 



Left the Seymour anchorage at midnight under a full moon and 

 headed for Tower. 



April 7th. Dropped anchor in Darwin Bay, Tower, before noon. 

 Captain much worried about getting in, as he sent out the second 

 oflacer in a small boat to take soundings with the hand-line, and one 

 minute he would shout, "No bottom at fifteen fathoms," and the 

 next cast would be, "Six feet!" This on the west side of the bay. 

 At last anchored near our old spot, so close to the east cliffs that it 

 looks perilous, but isn't. All ashore after lunch, and found the rook- 

 eries as populous as ever, with frigatebirds and boobies nesting in 



