^°'i9i^"^] Bryan, A Species of Drepanididce. 51 



says that on "June 1st we sighted Bird Island rising Hke a citadel 

 into a hazy skyline and the "Albatross" came to anchor at dark 

 off the south side. Although we could see nothing of the island, 

 birds were in evidence by their cries. An Oceanodroma fuligmosa 

 flew aboard, attracted by the glare of the deck light and on the 

 following evening Bulweria and 'Puffinus cuneatus were similarly 

 lured in some numbers. 



"From our anchorage Bird Island appeared like a very steep 

 half -funnel shaped hillside with several bold rocks and cliffs rising 

 from the general slope. Two sulcuses, on the east and west haloes, 

 divide the slope into three ridges and in each valley there is a group 

 of palm trees. The peak to the west rises 903 feet. The whole 

 of the south slope is covered with a growth of bushes and rank grass. 

 This portion of the island suggests the half of an old crater. The 

 west, north and east sides rise as a wall of naked rock straight and 

 sheer to an imposing height. The west face is black and menacing 

 and perfectly perpendicular. 



"We were in the vicinity of Bird Island two days but the sea 

 was too heavy for landing. In fact, a safe landing can be made 

 only in very quiet weather. The shore on the south side is so rocky 

 that even a small swell causes considerable commotion. Birds 

 nest all over the island. Those species which love the cliff find a 

 congenial home on the precipices and in the escarpments of the 

 south side, while the boobies and man-o'-war birds live among the 

 bushes on the grassy slopes. In fact, the whole mountain seemed 

 alive with Sula cyanops, Sula piscator, and Sula sula. The last 

 species lives along the top of the low escarpment which rises out 

 of the sea along the south side. These three species and man-o'- 

 war birds were continually flying around the vessel, as were like- 

 wise the various terns. We noted with pleasure Procelsterna 

 saxatilis, which was common. We saw only one or two Diomedea 

 immutahilis west of the island some miles, but a number of nigripes. 

 Birds collected or otherwise identified are: Sterna fuliginosa, Sterna 

 lunata, Anous stolidus, Micranous hawaiiensis, Procelsterna saxa- 

 tilis, Gygis alba kittlitzi, Diomedea immutabilis, Diomedia nigripes, 

 Puffinus cuneatus, Puffinus nativitatis, Bulweria bulweri, Oceano- 

 droma fuliginosa, Phaethon rubricauda, Sula cyanops, Sula piscator, 

 Sula sula, Fregata aquila, Charadrius dominicus fulvus, Arenaria, 

 interpres." 



