Extracts from Diary of Nicolai Hanson. 8i 



October Qth. — To-day we have had a visit from the first Cape Pigeon. 

 It was a pretty little bird, with grey back, grey neck and white belly ; 

 very tame, often coming close under our stern [see October 8]. 



October 7th. — Have seen some Petrels and an Albatros to-day. 



October Sih. — More birds have been noticed than on any previous 

 day. Two Albatroses and a great number of the Petrel I observed 

 the day before yesterday, which. I then took to be the Cape Pigeon, 

 but I was wrong. To-day I have seen the first Cape Pigeons, very 

 pretty birds, a little larger than a Tern, with black head, white belly, 

 grey back and wings with white spots. They have more rounded wings 

 than the other Petrels I have seen, but do not fly with less speed on 

 that account. 



October 9th. — Shot two Cape Pigeons to-day, but did not get them, 

 though I ti'ied to fire when they were over the ship. A large number of 

 birds noticed, of five different kinds, 



October 10th. — Have seen the same kinds of birds to-day as yesterday, 

 and probably also a kind of Albatros I have not observed before. It 

 was very dark on the back. 



October I'lth. — There have been a great number of birds round the 

 ship to-day. We have tried to snare some of them, but caught none. 

 Borchgrevink went out in a boat to shoot, and killed three Albatroses of 

 two difierent kinds (not of the large species) and also two Petrels of the 

 size of a Pigeon. The dogs would not eat the flesh of the Albatroses. 



October 13th. Lat. 33^ 37' S., Long. 9' 54' T7.— A number of birds 

 round the ship to-day. I snared two Albatroses (Diomedea melanophrys). 

 The doctor killed them with chloroform, which was quickly and neatly 

 done. Saw a shoal of Dolphins and some Whales. \_G_ipnodroma melano- 

 gastra has put in an appearance. N, H. in Borchgr. App., p. 321.] 



October lith. — Have prepared the skins of the two Albatroses killed 

 yesterday. 



October Idth. — Caught and prepared two Cape Pigeons to-day. 



October IQth. Lat. 38^ 29' S., Long. 5° 51' TT.— Rose early and began 

 catching Cape Pigeons with a line and hook. Caught six during the day. 

 Have seen two new species of birds to-day, one a white-headed Petrel, 

 and a Lestris. 



October 17th. — Saw a new kind of Petrel to-day (Prion). 



October 18(h. Lat. 40' 27' S., Long. 0° 21' E.—A number of birds 

 about the ship. I caught (with hook and line) one Mollymawk and 

 seven Cape Pigeons.^ 



October 19th. Lat. 39° 55' S., Long. 'il& E. — A number of birds about 

 the ship. I have caught seven Cape Pigeons and two Pnffinm {Kuhli ?).^ 

 This is ashy-grey on the back, but for the rest exactly like Pnffinus major. 



October ■20th. Lat. 40° 27' S., Long. 5° 22' iJ.—Caught" a Pnffinus. 

 Have seen a large number of this species to-day. 



[October -lUt. Lat. 41° 14' S., Long. 8° 44' E. -Two Petrels, Prion 

 desoiatus and P. vittatus, have been seen for the first time to-day. N. H. 

 in Borchgr. App., p. 322.] 



[October •22nd. Lat. 41° 20' S., Long. 13° 1' E.—We saw some 



' " Most of the birds caught up to date have recently started moulting." — N. H. 

 in Borchgrevink's book, App. p. 321. 



- These proved to be Priofinus cinereus. — R. B. S. 



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