CAPTAIN TUCKEY’S NARRATIVE. 31 
loose masses of lava, the cells sometimes empty, sometimes 
filled with crystals of mesotype. ‘To the west, I observed at 
some distance a discoloured appearance, not unlike a lava 
stream, and not far distant from some conical hills, in the 
direction of the Peak of Fogo; but the stinted time did not 
admit of examining if these were the vestiges of an eruption. 
In two or three places I met beds of a compact feldspar, 
mostly decomposed into a white earth. Iwas also told of a 
bed of shells among some hills, not far distant from the place 
named Toara, but which the same reason prevented me from 
verifying.” 
The island appears to be scantily supplied with birds, 
either as to species or numbers ; those seen were three spe- 
cics of falco; the first a fishing eagle, common at Porto 
Praya ; the second ash-coloured, of a large size, seen only on 
shore; and the third, which was shot on shore, nearly 
resembled the sparrow-hawk. The small birds, of which 
specimens were shot, were a fine king fisher’ ( Alcedo ), very 
common; the common swift (Hirunda apus ;) a sparrow 
differing little from the European house sparrow ; a bird 
resembling the lark; and a very small warbler, the only 
one that appeared to have any song. Some covies of 
Guinea fowl were seen, but too shy to be shot at; and 
the common quail was also seen. ‘The greater tropic bird, 
