276 Mr. F. G. Penrose on a Collection of 



There are several published accounts of the birds of Ascen- 

 sioUj though the greater number of these chiefly relate to 

 " Wideawake fair/^ The following list, I believe, includes 

 all the most important : — ' Proceedings of the Zoological So- 

 ciety/ 1856, p. 144, by Mr. Sclater ; ' Ibis,' 1868, p. 286, 

 by Commander Sperling; 'Zoologist,' 2nd ser. 1867, p. 979, 

 by Dr. C. Collingwood. As regards the determination of the 

 species I must especially thank Mr. Howard Saunders for the 

 kind way in Avhich he has helped me. 



Frigate-bird [Tachypetes aquilus). 



Three adult (two ^ and one ? ), one about three parts 

 fledged, one quite young in down. 



This is the largest bird known at Ascension, where the 

 species exists in considerable numbers, and, from the size and 

 peculiar motion of the scarlet pouch when flying, always 

 attracts attention. They are only known to breed on the top 

 of Boatswain-bird Island, a fairly flat tableland, about two 

 acres in extent, covered with guano a few inches deep. This 

 ground they share in company with two species of Gannets 

 and a small colony of Wideawakes, elsewhere mentioned. 

 These birds have considerable difficulty in rising from the 

 ground ; but once on the wing the ease and grace of their 

 flight has been commented on by many travellers and sailors. 

 The adult males alone have the scarlet crop. The young 

 are covered with perfectly white down. The about three 

 quarters fledged show a general resemblance to the adults, 

 except that some of the feathers on the middle of the back 

 are tawny, fringed with yellowish white, the same parts being 

 of a glossy black in the adults. 



Tropic- or Boatswain-bird {Phaeioti athereus). 



Four adult, one young in down, one egg. 



All the three species of Phaeton and some other sea-birds, 

 such as the smaller Skuas, are familiarly called BoatsAvain- 

 birds by the sailors, ov^'ing to the resemblance of the pro- 

 jecting tail-feathers to a marling-spike. 



The present species is the largest of the genus, and, from 

 its barred plumage, is probably the most generalized, as an 



