BIRDS ROUND THE ISLETS 61 



Trinidad. None of them seemed to be nesting 

 on Martin Vas. 



An example of the smaller noddy tern* was 

 seen amongst the common noddy and sooty terns, 

 and a large white-breasted shearwaterf passed 

 my boat. Several pairs of gannets, of the same 

 species as that found on South Trinidad, were also 

 seen, but they did not appear to have nests on 

 IMartin Vas. 



The sooty tern does not seem to have been 

 recorded from Martin Vas or South Trinidad 

 before, though it probably is quite common there. 

 To authenticate our identification a specimen was 

 obtained, and this was the only bird we shot during 

 the morning. 



I do not think that the islets of Martin Vas 

 are inhabited by any birds of great interest, and 

 probably South Trinidad offers more suitable 

 nesting places. 



The sea round these islets is inhabited by 

 numerous sharks, almost as many being seen here 

 as at Saint Paul's Rocks. Many were caught from 

 the ship while we were away in the boats, but 

 they were not of any great size, their average 

 length being about six feet. 



Shortly after mid-day we returned to the yacht, 

 which at once got under steam and left for 

 Tristan da Cunha. 



During the two days spent on South Trinidad 



* Micranous leucocapillus. t Puffinus grains ? 



