Letters, Announcements, ^c. 75 



scattered notes in the hope that they may prove of some slight 

 interest, more especially those relating to the little-observed 

 PruceUariidce. I may remark that the last two years of my life 

 have been passed on the South Atlantic Ocean, and that my 

 soul is weary of Albatroses and Petrels, and I hope never to 

 see another in his native haunts. 



We visited the island of Tristan d'Acunhain September 1868. 

 I was much interested in this magnificent mountain, the nursery 

 of the wandering Albatros, its snow-covered summit juiting 

 into the clouds, the sides variegated with green slopes and 

 jagged dun-coloured rocks, and its black beach fringed with 

 the restless foam of the Atlantic, whilst vast masses of sea- 

 wrack wave their slimy arms in the swell round the coast. The 

 Albatroses, which nest on the highest ledges of the cliffs, 

 present the appearance of mere specks, so great is the altitude. 

 The inhabitants, who had not much ornithological information 

 to impart, stated most positively that the Albatroses remained 

 at the island throughout the year, laying their eggs in January, 

 and the young flying in November, and that consequently there 

 is almost always on the island a supply of young birds, which 

 are consumed in great quantities for food, and appear to be con- 

 sidered rather a delicacy.^ The slopes are covered with very 

 fine sheep ; but the inhabitants are averse to eating them, as they 

 fetch a good price from passing ships; and in Tristan d'Acunha 

 money goes as far as it does anywhere. The solitary wingless 

 land-bird of the island is fast becoming extinct, from the depre- 

 dations of the wild cats. I obtained here the eggs of Diomedea 

 exulans, D. melanophrys, and Procellaria gigcmtea, besides those 

 of several other species, which I was unable to identify. 



In my communication to 'The Ibis' (N.S. vol. iv. no. 15), 

 I stated my doubts as to the existence of Thalassidroma leuco- 

 yustra. After two years' further observation in these seas, I do 

 not feel justified in altering my views. T.melanogastra may be 

 called the Sparrow of the South Atlantic, from its numbers and 

 tameness ; but on only one occasion have I seen a bird that 

 might have been T. leucogastru, and it was on this visit to Tristan 

 d'Acunha. 



Mr. Layard, who takes an opposite view, wished me to men- 



