284 Capt. Sperling's Ornithological Notes 



visitor as far north as this ; it probably inhabits the Antarctic 

 regions. 



I am of opinion that, at present, our list of the Procellariidce 

 of these parts is imperfect, from having, on one or two occa- 

 sions, seen birds that I could not refer to any known species ; 

 but having been unable to procure specimens, it is useless to 

 trouble the readers of 'The Ibis' with vague surmises: I can 

 only trust that in future voyages I may be more successful. 

 There is, however, some difficulty in this, as all these birds seem 

 to prefer the vicinity of a ship in strong winds, when it would 

 be impossible to lower a boat ; and it is only from a careful 

 search of the small barren and uninhabited oceanic islands that 

 we must expect to increase our list of these birds. 



From the 19th, until we neared Europa Island, no birds were 

 observed ; but on approaching that spot several Terns, which I 

 took to be Sterna hrachypus, flew about the ship. I had been 

 looking forward anxiously to a visit to Europa, as it is totally 

 uninhabited, and has never, to my knowledge, been visited by 

 any one save Admiral Sir Henry Keppel and Captains Speke and 

 Grant, who only stayed there a few hours. In this, however, I 

 was disappointed ; for a strong wind sprang up and raised such a 

 sea that landing would have been impossible ; so we steered clear 

 of it, and I hoped for better luck on my return. Lying, as the 

 island does, in the middle of the Mo9ambic channel, it would be 

 interesting to know whether it is indebted to Africa or Mada- 

 gascar for its avifauna*. It abounds in Turtle and a species 

 of Plover, probably Dromas ardeola ; and Speke says that there 

 were land-birds on it. Its low sandy soil is covered with thick 

 scrub, and it is believed that there is no water to be found. Its 

 dimensions are five miles by three ; and the nearest land, distant 

 about one hundred and sixty-five miles, is Murderers' Bay in 

 Madagascar. While passing through the Mo9ambic channel I 



[* On none of the numerous islands studded through these seas visited 

 by me, when cruising in H.M.S. ' Castor,' was any species of land-bird 

 discovered, not even a Swallow. Sea-fowls and Waders are of so cos- 

 mopolite a character that they afford few or no data on which to found 

 a theory of the geographical distribution of species. — E. L. Layard.] 



