— 17 — 



are shelving, and In little holes in them sat numbers of Pailles 

 en-queue on their solitary eggs. These beautiful birds did 

 not attempt to move away from me but merely uttered a shrill 

 cry, and prepared for resistance if disturbed. They do not 

 build any nest, but lay their one egg on the bare rock. It is 

 of a reddish brown, speckled with dark spots, about the size 

 of a duck's egg- 

 Young birds quite as large as their parents were easily cap- 

 tured by the men who prized them for food ; but I should 

 fancy they must taste very fishy. The plumage of the young 

 is quite different from that of the old ones, being mottled 

 black and white. I did not see a single instance of a young 

 bird on the wing ; and I believe it is only the second year 

 they get their full feathers- 



I saw a good many Petrels, {Puffina cTilororJiyncus) sitting 

 in the same locality. These birds also lay a single egg ; quite 

 white, as large as a hen's. There were no young about, and 

 the eggs were all fresh that I took. 



I observed no other birds, and these seem only to resort 

 thither for the purpose of incubation, at certain seasons of the 

 year. 



I brought away eight or nine Tropic birds all taken sitting 

 and strange to say, they were all males. 



The Honorable Edward Newton, Colonial Secretary, visited 

 the island some years ago, and publised a pamphlet on its or- 

 nithology, in which he states he observed the Turtle Dove, 

 (^Qeopelia striata of Gray) Petrels and Tropic birds, and he 

 thought these were all ever found there. 



I arrived at the top of the mountain which is 1000 feet 

 above sea level by Elliot's Barometer; but being hot, tired 

 and hungry, I descended, with the determination of studying 

 the Greology of the island on the morrow. 



As soon as I reached our cave, I was delighted to find my 

 friends with everything prepared to satisfy the inner man. 



I cannot refrain from saying a few words in praise of our 

 Commissary General, Mr. Vandermeersch, who deserved a 

 " cordon d'honneur " for his excellent arrangements for our 

 comfort. 



