410 THE ARCTURUS ADVENTURE 



1 large silver eel. 

 1 Nemichthys. 

 1 Melamphaes. 

 1 Stylophthalmus. 

 1 Melamphaes mizolepis. 

 Petersen at 600 fathoms. 



1 small white fish, with enormously elongated thread pectorals. 



1 long-jawed Leptocephalus. 



2 Melamphaes tiigrofulvus, one with stomach distended by huge 

 fish. 



1 Idlacanthus antrostomus. 

 1 65 mm. Chauliodus sloanei. 

 1 Melamphaes m^izolepis. 

 1 Melamphaes megalops. 

 1 70 mm. Stomias. 

 300 black Cyclothones. 

 25 white Clyclothones. 

 Cocos sighted before noon but we are roaming around in the vicinity 

 to-night and will seek anchorage at dawn. "A bold coast," says the 

 Captain and prefers daylight by which to verify what the charts say 

 about Chatham Bay. 



Dozens of small tunny escorted us all day but refused to take a 

 hook. 



Noon position: Lat. 6° 16' N: Long. 86° 46' W. 



May 15th. A wonderful sight at seven this morning. Hundreds of 

 porpoises leaping around the ship, boobies flapping in the rigging, a 

 rainbow arching before us, where Cocos lay sombrely under heavy 

 rainclouds, with snow-white terns silhouetted against its gloomy shores. 

 Mad attempts to harpoon a porpoise resulted only in much exercise 

 for everyone, including the porpoise. 



Anchored in Chatham Bay and everyone seized handfuls of bis- 

 cuits and rushed ashore, ignoring luncheon. Found the island a mass 

 of tangled vegetation, the only clear space being the narrow strip of 

 beach. Even the hill nearest the sea, that from the deck seemed to 

 be covered by a smooth lawn, proved to be overgrown with tall sharp- 

 edged grass, in which it would have been easy to lose oneself except 

 for the slope of the ground sea-ward. So high and tough and closely- 

 matted is this growth that the easiest way to progress is by falling 

 through it, literally pitching forward and so pressing down a sort of 

 trail, along which it is possible to flounder. The feeling is that of 

 wading through a gigantic haymow. 



The crew were swimming in the bay; the dynamiting party acquired 

 new species of fish from the reefs by explosive methods, while others 

 investigated the shore and river, seeking for insects, birds and water- 

 life. 



The only signs of man were the names carved on the boulders in 

 the river-mouth, and on top of the hill a few rotted boards, pieces of 

 corrugated iron, and ancient hand-cuff's. 



Everyone on board for dinner, much lacerated as to arms and legs. 



