104 Mr. J. C. Melliss on the Birds of St. Helena. 



Meleagris gallopavo (Linn.). Turkey. Hab. Mexico. 



The existence of the Turkey in St. Helena dates back as far 

 as 1588. Cavendish says, " We found, moreover, in this island 

 plenty of Guinea-cocks, which we call Turkeys." 



Numida meleagris (Linn). Guinea Fowl. //aZ*. West Africa. 



Partly domesticated and partly wild, having recently been 

 much encouraged in the Island, where it inhabits the high 

 land. 



Charadrius pecuarius, Temm. Wire-bird. 



This bird frequents chiefly the outskirts of the Island, and is 

 generally to be seen running about on the hot stony plains, 

 more or less covered with wire-grass [Cynodon dactylon). It 

 feeds upon beetles and a small snail {Succinea, sp. ?), found 

 adhering to and hiding under the rocks and stones, with which 

 the ground is partly covered. It is rarely, but occasionally, 

 seen inland, sometimes in pairs, sometimes in flocks of five or 

 six. It lays, in the summer months of December and January, 

 two eggs, in colour grey, with black markings. It is stated, 

 upon the pretty good authority of several persons long resi- 

 dent in the Island, that this bird makes no nest, but lays its 

 eggs in dry cowdung on the exposed open ground ; it slightly 

 covers them over, but does not sit upon them, merely returning 

 occasionally to see that they are safe, and to take care of the 

 young birds as soon as they are hatched. The colour of the 

 eggs so much resembles the material in which they are laid 

 that it is difficult to distinguish them from it without careful 

 search. After heavy rain the Wire-bird may be seen frequent- 

 ing and running along the edges of the pools of water; but 

 generally it finds little water in the Island to indulge its wading 

 propensities ; this deprivation does not appear, however, to in- 

 terfere with its happiness, for it is very doubtful if it ever leaves 

 the Island. 



This bird has, it seems, until very recently been confounded 

 with a Cape species, C. kittlitzi {cf. Ibis, 1867, pp. 251, 252, 

 note) . 



Anser ferus (Linn.). Domestic Goose. Hab. Europe. 

 Reared in the Island. 



