observed in the Western Pacific. 205 



tennis hat I was wearing, which, from washing, had assumed 

 the pointed style of a jelly-bag, and they made a combined 

 attack on me, flying straight at my eyes or the apex of the 

 hat, and passing so close that I could almost knock them 

 down with my hand. On the same day (August 28th) 

 I shot a young Larus belcheri, a confiding and conspicuous 

 species, which generally sits upon the buoys amongst the 

 shipping. Its breeding-place, like that of the Sterna exilis, 

 is, I believe, still unknown. The White-l;ellied Oyster- 

 catcher [Htematopus palliatus) and the Black Oyster-catcher 

 [Hamatopus ater) were both exceedingly common on the 

 sandy beaches of San Lorenzo; their native name is'^Boquilla," 

 and they are capital eating. I also shot an immature speci- 

 men of Larus dominicanus. 



At this time my ambition was to slay the Condor of the 

 Andes ; they were then in fair numbers about the higher 

 parts of the island, and I could generally count from a dozen 

 to twenty at a time soaring over the hills. I soon discovered 

 that at any ordinary distance a 12-bore, although loaded with 

 buck-shot, was harmless, and after firing several times at 

 ranges of 30 or 40 yards with the result of a shake of the 

 tail or an extra flap of the wings, I concluded to resort to 

 stratagem. Taking my spaniel and a short cover-gun loaded 

 with heavy buck-shot, I ensconced myself in a hole at the 

 top of a sandy c\\W facing the sea, and tied up my dog ; his 

 nature is a restless one, and he shows his disapprobation of 

 any restraint by constant whining, which, as a general rule, 

 is annoying, especially if waiting for ducks, but it suited the 

 circumstances of this case admirably. I had provided myself 

 with a novel, and basking in the sun made myself very com- 

 fortable. Soon I perceived that the plaintive noises made by 

 my dog had produced an effect; gradually the Condors 

 passed and repassed in their majestic flight, curiosity bring- 

 ing them each time nearer and nearer, till at last I saw the 

 most inquisitive bird passing Avithin five yards of my retreat, 

 when to drop the book and deliver the contents of both 

 barrels was the work of a second. To see a heavy bird 

 such as a Mallard suddenly drop with a thud is generally 



