STcetch of the Life oj Mr* David Douglas, 123 



" these birds is grand and majestic ; the largest which I ever saw, 

 " measured twelve feet four inches from tip to tip of the extended 

 " wings, and four feet from the point of the beak to the end of the 

 " tail. As respects their flight, the same renarks apply to all the 

 " species. When sitting on the water their wings are raised ex- 

 " actly like a swan's ; when feeding they are somewhat higher, with 

 " a constant tremulous motion like those of the hawk tribe ; and 

 " when elevating themselves in the water to soar in the air, they 

 " first walk the water, skimming the surface with the points of 

 " their pinions for the distance of several hundred yards, before 

 " they seem able to raise themselves, which they generally do with 

 " the utmost grace, and with scarcely any apparent movement of 

 " their wings. They are of a bold and savage disposition, which 

 *' is especially displayed when they are captured." 



At the island of Juan Fernandez he fell in with a poor sailor, 

 named William Clarke, who had employment from the Spaniards 

 who visit this place for the purpose of killing seals and wild cattle, 

 which were plentiful. Near the remains of an old church once built 

 there, Douglas writes " there is a circular oven, built of London 

 " fire-brick, seven feet in diameter within, bearing the date 1741, 

 '' and therefore probably built by Anson during his residence." 



" Some pigeons of a small blue species, now occupy it as their 

 " cote. There were eggs in it but no young ones. I pointed it out 

 " to Clarke, and advised him to make use of this colony." 



In the old gardens were found peaches of three or four sorts, 

 quinces, apples, and pears ; figs and vines were also in a thriving 

 state. Before leavins:, Dousrlas left with Clarke, the seeds of some 

 culinary vegetables, radishes being the only article of that kind 

 that appeared to be on the island. Douglas's eye was alive to 

 all that is picturesque, and his glowing description of that en- 

 chanting spot, is thus given with the spirit of a botanist. 



^' No pen, indeed, can correctly describe the charming and rural 

 " appearance of this island ; the numerous rills descending through 

 " valleys overshadowed by luxuriant verdure, and terminating in 

 " dark recesses and rocky dells, where wave the fronds of Xoma^ia, 

 " Aspidia and Polypodia, several species of which are new and of 

 " princely form and growth. On the hills grow several kinds of 

 *' JEscallonia, BerheriSj Lobelia^ Hordeum, and Avena. During 

 " my short stay, I gathered seventy distinct and highly interesting 

 " plants. The species of birds were few and not beautiful." 



Arrived at the Gallipagos, Mr. Douglas was on shore on one of 



