82 Mr. E. C. Reed on the Birds of 



I first visited Juan Fernandez in September 1870, in a 

 small steamer chartered by myself and some friends for the 

 purpose. We remained but three days on the island ; and as 

 I saw that good work might be done there, I requested the 

 Chilian government to send me over again in a man-of-war. 

 This was done in 1872, when I stayed in Juan Fernandez 

 twenty days, and, being aided by two good assistants, made 

 as complete investigations as possible into the zoology, botany, 

 and geology of the island. I intend shortly to publish the 

 results of this voyage. 



I have never been to Mas-a-fuera ; but as I know all the 

 collectors that have been there during the last ten years, I 

 have heard all that they have ascertained on the subject. 



On Juan Fernandez six species of land-birds occur, viz. : — 



1. Turd us falklandicus. 



2. An^retes fernandezianus, Phil. 



3. Eustephanus galeritus, Mol. 



4. Eustephanus fernandensis. King. 



5. TiNNUNCULUS SPARVERIUS. 



6. Otus brachyotus. 



Turdus falklandicus is common, and offers no difference in 

 plumage ; but my collector fancied that its voice was slightly 

 different from that of Chilian individuals. 



As regards A. fernandezianus, I consider the figure of this 

 species, l.s. c. pi. viii. fig. 1, very badj the crest is too short 

 and badly coloured, while the feathers on the back of the neck 

 are elevated in a very curious and unnatural manner. This 

 species is moderately common, hopping about the twigs like 

 a Parus. On two occasions I saw one catch a moth, of the 

 genus Leucania, on the wing ; but its principal food consists 

 of larvse and small Diptera,' which are very abundant on the 

 island. I found one hanging dead from a spider^s web ; but 

 how it got there and why it did not escape I cannot say. 

 This species has not been found, and probably does not occur, 

 on Mas-a-fuera. 



