128 Letters, Announcements, ^c. 



The increasing severity of the weather putting an end to sur- 

 veying-operations, we left the Straits on the 12th of June for 

 this place^ where we arrived on the 1 st of July. On the way up 

 we encountered several species of Petrels and Albatroses ; and 1 

 obtained specimens of the beautiful Cape Pigeon {Daption 

 capensis), and of a larger Petrel, light ash-coloured above and 

 white beneath. I carefully examined the digestive system of 

 both species, and was interested by a striking difference of 

 structure in the formation of the stomach. The entire length 

 of the alimentary canal in the ash-coloured and white Petrel 

 was 85 inches ; of this the intestinal tract constituted 74'5 

 inches. The ceeca measured '25 in. in length, and were 

 situated 2 inches above the anus. The stomach was distinctly 

 divided into two portions, a cardiac and a pyloric; so distinct 

 was the division that the bird might be said to possess two 

 stomachs. The cardiac division, which possessed a compara- 

 tively feeble muscular coat, was very glandular, as was also the 

 oesophagus. It was filled with a white, rather firm mass of 

 semidigested ship-biscuit. The pyloric division was extremely 

 muscular, and contained the two mandibles of a small cuttle- 

 fish. In the Cape Pigeon I find the length of the alimentary 

 canal to be 46 inches; of the intestinal tract 34*5 inches. 

 The oesophagus enlarged much more abruptly to form the car- 

 diac portion of the stomach than in the other Petrel, and the 

 muscular coat of the cardiac portion was considerably thicker, 

 so that the gastric glands were not visible through it. The 

 pyloric division was much less developed, and its lining mem- 

 brane was of a greenish-yellow colour. The diameter of the 

 intestinal canal was considerably greater than in the former 

 species. The stomach of one of the specimens examined con- 

 tained partially digested biscuit; that of another a piece of 

 pork-rind, so large that it must have distended the oesophagus 

 greatly in its passage downwards. I made a careful drawing of 

 the stomachs of both birds. 



We have now been here nearly three months, and have had a 

 great deal of enjoyment in this glorious country, but have found 

 the warm, enervating climate very trying after the cold, bracing 

 weather of the Straits, and aie consequently very glad at the 



