176 Bird Nafes from Trieste to Bombay. 



probably (Edimnnns scolopnx — circled once or twice as if 

 desirous of settlirg on the ship, and then flew off astern. A 

 Whratear came aboird and rested for a time. It was of the 

 Saxicola mvan'he type. Then a small bird— not unlike a Reed- 

 bunting— was seen flying- along. Next came two Harriers, 

 followed by a third, passing from the African to the Arabian 

 coast 



No Gulls were following the ship, but a few Les.=?er 

 Black-backs were seen. In the evening the first Boobies 

 Sula leucorjaster were seen, and two white Gannet — but the 

 la'itter were too far off for identification. A stray Lams heim- 

 prichl or two. 



March '24th. (The Eed Sea). No land in sight until 

 about 10 a.m., but the Lesser Black -backed Gulls were a- 

 gain following the ship, as well as Sooty Gulls and 

 Boobies. The Boobies were very numerous, flying over the 

 sea singly and in parties: in the distance they have a spidery 

 appearance owing to everything being pointed — bill, wings, and 

 tail. Many came clo^e up to the stern and there both took food 

 from the surface of the water and plunged for it. They 

 may be roughly described as chocolate -brown birds with the 

 wing lining and lower parts 'from breast white. The bill 

 and naked facial skin being either greenish white or very 

 pale flesh colour. 



About 10 a.m. we passed a large rocky island, and 

 then, for a time the number of Gulls and Gannets decreased 

 until noon, when they returned in force again while the ship 

 was passing "the twelve apostles." A white Gannet with 

 black quills seen — Sula cyamops? About 6 p.m. we passed 

 between a lighthouse rock and a large island, called, I believe, 

 Sabel Zukker. 



March 25th. Reached Aden afjout 11 a.m. Before 

 we bounded the corner we had only been followed by a few 

 immaiture Larus cbffinis, but the harbour was full of Gulls. 

 These were all either Larus affinis or Larus hemprichi. 

 The Sooty Gull is very strictly protected in Aden harbour and 

 is consequently very numerous and fearless. This Gull is 

 dusky brown except for the breast, underparts, tail, and rump, 

 which arc white; the wing is also edged with white owing to 

 the quills being tipped with that colour. In breeding plumage 



