Mr. J. C. Melliss on the Birds of St. Helena. 105 



Anas boschas, Linn. Domestic Duck. Hab. Europe. 

 Reared abundantly in the Island. 



Cairina moschata (Linn.). Muscovy Duck. Hab. South 

 America. 



A few have been imported into this island. 



Procellaria glacialoides, a. Smith. " Right-whale-bird.^^ 

 Rare; two were caught with a common baited fishing-hook 

 and line, in October 1868, off Spury Island. 



Procellaria, sp. ? " Mother Carey's Chicken." 

 A small species of Petrel frequents the sea around the Island, 

 but is not very abundant; and I have never had an opportunity 

 of examining a specimen so as to determine the species. 



SuLA, sp. ? " Booby.'' 



This bird seldom occurs on the Island, but frequents the 

 neighbourhood. It is often seen from shipboard near the 

 Island, but I have not had an opportunity of examining a 

 specimen. 



Tachypetes AQUiLUs (Linn.). '' Man-of-war-bird." 

 Although there is a part of the south-west coast designated 

 " Man-of-war Roost," owing its name to this species, and there 

 is still living evidence of its having once frequented the landing- 

 steps at Jamestown, this bird is seldom now to be met with, nor 

 is it easy to assign a reason for its disappearance from the Island. 



Phaeton iETHEREUs (Linn.). Tropic-bird. 



Very abundant on the southern and eastern, or windward 

 coasts of the Island, which, as being furthest away from the 

 haunts of man, and also more precipitous than other parts, are 

 well adapted to the bird's peculiar habit of dropping itself down 

 from a ledge in order to enable it to rise on the wing, a feat 

 which it is unable to accomplish when sitting on level ground. 

 This bird inhabits holes in the perpendicular face of the cliffs, 

 from one to two thousand feet above the sea, and goes out in 

 the early morning to fish for food, returning homewards about 

 3 or 4 o'clock in the afternoon. At this time of the day the 

 Tropic-bird is easily shot ; and it is to be regretted that these 

 beautiful and peaceful creatures suffer so much persecution as 



