212 Mr Scolder's Voyage to the Pacific Ocean. 



had seen one, a circumstance which we had expected, as we 

 saw one of the conical hills of Albemarle island burning 

 every night we were in the vicinity of this group of islands. 

 In the woods, where the grass is abundant, we found the tor- 

 toises grazing, and many of them of large size, weighing pro- 

 bably 200 pounds. 



The tortoise, (T. Indica,) we found to be much more agree- 

 able food than the green turtle, as it is quite free from the fishy 

 flavour which the other possesses. We found much difficulty 

 in taking them to the shore, on account of the excessive heat, 

 and the roughness of the ground. 



The birds were so tame, as to be easily knocked from the 

 branches on which they were perched, and frequently alight- 

 ed on the sticks we happened to have in our hand. In re- 

 turning to the beach, we killed plenty of Iguanas, an animal 

 of the lizard tribe, and esteemed a most delicate kind of food 

 in tropical countries. Although our Iguanas differed very 

 much from the West Indian species, both in size and appear- 

 ance, being larger and of a yellowish colour, we found them 

 much more palatable food than turtle. 



The following is an account of the most frequent animals 

 we saw during our short visit to James's island. The only 

 mammiferous animal is a species of seal, with very short ears 

 and short brown hair. We killed one individual, but it soon 

 became so putrid, that we were unable to make a descrip- 

 tion, a circumstance which prevented us from examining, 

 in a detailed manner, many other animals. In addition to 

 the birds already alluded to, we saw a beautiful bird of 

 the genus Sida, nearly allied to the soland goose ; its co- 

 lours are very fine, and, what is most remarkable, the feet 

 and lesrs are of a beautiful azure colour. On the elevated 

 rocks, we frequently saw a small though handsome species of 

 eagle, of a golden yellow colour. A small species of pigeon 

 was very common in the woods, distinguished by the beauty 

 of its plumage, and the bright metallic hue of the feathers of 

 its neck. 



The reptiles, which are very numerous and interesting, are 

 different kinds of turtles and lizards. The tortoise frequents 

 the shady places in the interior of the island, where grass is 



