404 GALAPAGOS ARCHIPELAGO chap. 



been subjected. Although no one has a right to speculate 

 without distinct facts, yet even with respect to the Chatham 

 Island mouse, it should be borne in mind that it may possibly 

 be an American species imported here ; for I have seen, in a 

 most unfrequented part of the Pampas, a native mouse living 

 in the roof of a newly-built hovel, and therefore its transportation 

 in a vessel is not improbable : analogous facts have been 

 observed by Dr. Richardson in North America. 



Of land-birds I obtained twenty-six kinds, all peculiar to 

 the group and found nowhere else, with the exception of one 

 lark-like finch from North America (Dolichonyx oryzivorus), 

 which ranges on that continent as far north as 54°, and generally 

 frequents marshes. The other twenty-five birds consist, firstly, 

 of a hawk, curiously intermediate in structure between a 

 Buzzard and the American group of carrion-feeding Polybori ; 

 and with these latter birds it agrees most closely in every 

 habit and even tone of voice. Secondly, there are two owls, 

 representing the short-eared and white barn-owls of Europe. 

 Thirdl}^ a wren, three tyrant-flycatchers (two of them species 

 of Pyrocephalus, one or both of which would be ranked by 

 some ornithologists as only varieties), and a dove — all analogous 

 to, but distinct from, American species. Fourthly, a swallow, 

 which though differing from the Progne purpurea of both 

 Americas, only in being rather duller coloured, smaller, and 

 slenderer, is considered by Mr. Gould as specifically distinct. 

 Fifthly, there are three species of mocking -thrush — a form 

 highly characteristic of America. The remaining land-birds 

 form a most singular group of finches, related to each other in 

 the structure of their beaks, short tails, form of body, and 

 plumage : there are thirteen species, which Mr. Gould has 

 divided into four sub-groups. All these species are peculiar 

 to this archipelago ; and so is the whole group, with the 

 exception of one species of the sub-group Cactornis, lately 

 brought from Bow Island, in the Low Archipelago. Of 

 Cactornis the two species may be often seen climbing about 

 the flowers of the great cactus-trees ; but all the other species 

 of this group of finches, mingled together in flocks, feed on the 

 dry and sterile ground of the lower districts. The males of 

 all, or certainly of the greater number, are jet-black ; and the 

 females (with perhaps one or two exceptions) arc brown. The 



