630 NOTE ON THE BIBLIOGRAPHY OF LORD HOWE ISLAND, 



possible to walk across to Rabbit Island. He also refers to the 

 fact that the inland or fresh-water lagoon had disappeared, a fact 

 also in accord with our observations. In his ornithological notes 

 he speaks of two kinds of Mutton Bird, one brown or black, the 

 other white and a winter visitant. The former would be either 

 Puffinus hrevicaudus^ Brandt, or P. sphenurus, Gould, but the 

 identity of the latter is puzzling. The writer also records a 

 visit of swallow^s, and a flight of wild duck during his visit to 

 Lord Howe Island. One very interesting fact recorded by 

 Dr. Macdonald is the occurrence of the Cape Pigeon, Daj^tioji 

 capensis* around Ball's Pyramid, because we observed this 

 species about Lat. 32° S., when proceeding to the island in the 

 s.s. " Taupo." 



Under the head of reptiles, Dr. Macdonald recorded two 

 lizards, and a " small dark coloured land snake," but non-venomous. 

 Now, if there is no mistake here, this statement is of importance, 

 because from all accounts. Ophidians are supposed to be non- 

 existent there, and our researches certainly did not reveal any 

 trace of this order. 



The remaining classes of the animal kingdom are touched upon 

 by the author, who mentions the occurrence of the Pearly Nau- 

 tilus (N'aiUihis poQujnlhis, Linn.), and a small Pentacrinus, 

 neither of which came under our observation. This very inter- 

 esting report concludes with a short account of the botany and 

 general capabilities of Lord Howe Island. 



If I am not very much mistaken, a French translation of the 

 foregoing has appeared, for my colleague, Mr. Whitelegge, on 

 looking up other matters in the Royal Society's Catalogue of 

 Scientific Papers, found under Dr. Macdonald's name the 

 following title : " Note sur la Topographie et I'Histoire naturelle 

 de Tile de Lord Howe," published in a French nav^al medical 

 journal,! which, I regret to say, is not procurable here. Not- 

 withstanding the discrepancy in the date, this and the official 

 report are probably one and the same. 



* T evmed Procellai'ia capensis, by Macdonald. 

 + Archives de M6d. Navale, 1872, xvii. p. 241. 



