158 Southern Cross. 



carried hundreds of miles before their eventual liberation, and this 

 may account for occurrences so far beyond the usual limits." 



The first Cape Pigeons are recorded in Mr. Hanson's diary as 

 having been noticed by him on the 8th of October, when between 

 St. Vincent and the Cape, and many were snared by him between 

 the 8th and 29th of that month {antea, p. 81). The 2nd of 

 November was the last time that he observed Cape Pigeons in flocks 

 before reaching Tasmania (p. 82). By the 25th of November, when 

 nearing Tasmania, they had nearly all left the ship {antea, p. 82) : 

 but he notes that when the latter entered the ice-pack on the 30th of 

 December, "our old acquaintance, the Cape Pigeon, also appeared 

 again " (p. 83). He procured specimens in the pack from the 1st to 

 the 12th of January, 1899. On the 29th he notices that the birds 

 disappeared, so that up to that time they must have been generally 

 observed in the pack (p. 91). On the 12th of February, when 

 the ship had escaped from the ice and regained the open sea. Cape 

 Pigeons were again observed, and they were also seen during the 

 hurricane off Victoria Land on the 15th of February (p. 93). 



Mr, Borchgrevink mentions his having seen Daption capensis in 

 the ice-pack, especially on the 12th of January, when they were 

 "swimming about in the open water catching Crustacea" (p. 08). 

 He also speaks of the species as moulting at the end of December, 

 " and flying with some difficulty " (p. 54).^ 



Mr. Bernacchi writes : — " A general favourite among seamen is 

 the Cape Pigeon, a pretty, busy little sea bird about the size of a 

 dove, but plumper, with a black head and an elaborate pattern in 

 black, grey, and white upon its wings. Around the stern of any 

 passing ship large numbers of fluttering visitors hover continually, 

 their shrill cries and unweary manoeuvres contrasting pleasantly with 

 the deep monotone made by the driving keel through the foaming 

 sea. In common with most Southern sea-birds having hooked beaks, 

 they are easily caught with hook and line, but will not live in 

 captivity. Thoughtless passengers often amuse themselves by 

 shooting these graceful wanderers, although what satisfaction may 

 be found in reducing a beautiful living thing to a useless morsel of 

 draggled carrion is not easy to see." 



1 Cf. Hanson's Diary for October 18th, 1898 {antea, p. 81). 



