214 On Birds observed in the Western Pacific 



day to a small island about teu miles, he said_, in the lagoon, 

 and where, according to his account, the Grey Noddy was 

 breeding in great numbers, but unfortunately we sailed next 

 morning. It was here that F. D. Bennett "^ first found and 

 described this little-known species. 



Jarvis Island has been worked for guano ; but the works 

 have been abandoned on account of its inferior quality. We 

 found a cat in possession of the house, and signs of the 

 inhabitants not having long evacuated the premises. Maiden 

 Island is the most extensively worked for guano, eight white 

 men and one hundred and sixty natives being employed. 

 No birds were seen at either of these islands. In passing 

 Starbuck Island on the 15tli October, I could see a ''wide- 

 awake fair " from the ship, and landing was attempted in a 

 life-gig ; but the risk was too great, especially as the sharks 

 were in strong force and, actuated either by rage or hunger, 

 snapped at the blades of the oars as the boat neared the reef. 

 One Sterna fidiginosa was shot from the boat for identifi- 

 cation. At Caroline and Flint Islands no birds were 

 obtained, the former having five human inhabitants and the 

 latter, apparently, none. 



At Vostok, which was also uninhabited (22nd Oct.), I 

 obtained two specimens of the small Black-cheeked Noddy, 

 Anous nielanogenys, and some of their eggs. At Penrhyn 

 Island (25th Oct.) no birds were observed. This island 

 principally supplies the others with natives for labour, having 

 a population of three whites and 370 natives exporting black- 

 edged pearl-shells and copra. A tour of the Hervey or Cook 

 group completed this trip, so far as these islands were con- 

 cerned ; and as no anchorage was found at any of the six 

 visited, our stay was short, and no information could be 

 obtained. 



Christmas day 1884 was spent at Juan Fernandez, an 

 island wliicli might be to South America what Madeira is to 

 England. At present it is only used for stock-raising, but 

 enterprise may some day utilize it as winter- quarters ; and 

 apart from its associations, it might become a charming 

 * Narr. Whaliiip-Voy. louud the Globe, ii. App. p. 248 (1840). 



