A POOR FAUNA 203 



species, the common noddy tern, the same bird 

 as that found on Saint Paul's Rocks, and white 

 terns.* The latter were seen in the crater of 

 Rano Kao, where they were apparently nesting. 

 In a marsh at the bottom of the crater were 

 numbers of small geese, which were seen both by 

 myself and Major Wilbraham. These geese may 

 have been introduced, but as none of us had time 

 to get to the bottom of the crater, no specimens 

 were procured. In coloration they appeared to 

 belong to two species ; some being black with a 

 patch of white on the wing, while others were of 

 a red colour. These differences may, however, 

 be due to sex. A golden plover was, we were told, 

 introduced by Mr. Cooper, who, several years ago, 

 turned out six of these birds on the island. 



There are no indigenous mammals on Easter 

 Island, the rat which inhabits it having been 

 imported, and a cat, which is found wild, being 

 descended from the domestic cat. 



On the second day of our visit I landed early 

 in the morning, and set off in the direction of the 

 crater. After a long walk I eventually reached 

 the Up of this volcano, but, owing to lack of time, 

 I was unable to get to the marsh at the bottom of 

 it. I scrambled about half-way down to pick 

 up a tern which I had shot, but at this point it was 

 extremely difficult to descend, owing to the nature 

 of the ground, which was covered with loose stones 



* Oygia alba. 



