350 IIOWICK GROUP. 



it lying so much to the westward, and being more 

 intricate. Indeed it is not prudent to approach 

 these isles even in the afternoon, from the number 

 of reefs, and the difficulty in seeing them with the 

 sun a-head. 



Mr. Bynoe was not fortunate enough to add to his 

 collection of birds ; those he observed being only 

 doves and parrots, besides a fly catcher common to 

 parts of the coast, and often before met with by us. 



A couple of vampires of the larger and darker 

 species were also seen, and numerous land shells 

 (Helix) similar to those on Cape Upstart; found near 

 the roots of trees, buried in the decayed vegetation. 

 Two old cocoa nuts and large quantities of pumice 

 stone were picked up on the south-east side of 

 the island. The prevailing character of the rocks 

 was granitic, out of which some beautiful specimens 

 of hornblende were procured. The entire island 

 was fringed with a narrow strip of coral, but I noticed 

 none of it above high water mark. 



July 4. — We took our departure at an early hour, 

 and after running round to sketch the north-east 

 side of the island, stood to the westward for Howick 

 Group. The weather being thick we did not dis- 

 cover the somewhat remarkable peak on No. 1, 

 until we were close to it. Our progress was 

 accelerated by a current running half a knot an 

 hour, and finding the passage between No, 1 

 and 2 of Howick Group, much impeded by rocks, 

 we hauled up between 2 and 3 isles, and on 



