188 Transactions. — Zoology. 



Noddy {Anous stoUdus) came up to us, aud, after hovering 

 about for some time with a beautiful hawk-like flight, alighted 

 on the ship. From the absence of white on the crown, it was 

 ■evidently a young bird, and it was so tame and fearless 

 that I actually touched it with my hand before it took flight 

 again. 



26th March. — We found ourselves early this morning in the 

 spacious and picturesque harbour of Eio. A string of black 

 shags passed us as we were approaching our anchorage, and 

 one or two large gulls were hovering in the harbour, whilst 

 high overhead birds called " Kites " by the residents, but in 

 reality the small Frigate-bird {TacJiypetes aquila), were soaring 

 about. On landing, I was astonished to see seven or eight of 

 these "vultures of the sea " disporting themselves in the air 

 inside the quay, and within easy stone's-throw of the people 

 who were crowding the thoroughfare. They were apparently 

 intent on floating garbage, and it was most interesting to watch 

 their rapid evolutions on strong pinion, sometimes hovering 

 with slow flappings of the wings, the head being turned first to 

 one side then to the other, often wheeling suddenly down, with 

 their forked tails quickly opened, to within a few yards of the 

 bystanders, their crimson and yellow pouches being plainly 

 visible as they came near to us. 



27th March. — As we were leaving our anchorage a Booby 

 passed us on the wing, and I could hear the call of a Tern, 

 although the bird was not visible. 



28th March to 1st April. — During the last five days, 

 although the light south-east trades were blowing, and the 

 tropics comparatively cool, there was not a bird to be seen. 

 Twice only I saw in the distance a small flock of Petrels flying 

 low. The only sign of animation was furnished by the shoals 

 of tiny flying-fish, quitting for a moment their natural element, 

 and performing a direct, rapid flight, as if endeavouring to 

 elude the pursuit of some enemy under the surface. 



2nd to 4th April. — Gentle north-east trades blowing. 

 No birds seen when we were crossing the Line except an 

 occasional Storm-petrel performing its erratic flight over the 

 surface of the water after the manner of a bat hawking for 

 flies. 



8th April. — To-day, when abreast of Bonavista, one of the 

 Cape de Verde Islands, a pair of Boobies hovered round the 

 ship, as if to reconnoitre, and then disappeared (lat. 10° 10' N., 

 long. 22'^ 17' W.). 



9th to 10th April. — Not a bird of any kind. 



11th April. — About 2 p.m. a Turtle-dove from the shore 

 came on board, and rested in the rigging. 



12th April. — Off Tcneriffe. The common Seagull of this 

 part of the world. Lams cachlnnans, hovered about in large 



