1474 The Zoologist — December, 1868. 



homes. Query, Are the sea-birds of Ascension the same as ours ? 

 and if not, why not? what reason for any great difference? I know 

 nothing of the Ascension birds; but the fish are quite different from 

 those at St. Helena, except certain kinds common to the whole South 

 Atlantic Ocean. 



Of land birds there are not a great many, and only one species 

 known to be indigenous. 



We have a noble pheasant from China, in size and general appearance 

 similar to the English pheasant, but far more brilliant in plumage. 

 The old cocks are splendid birds; the deep bronze of the breast 

 becomes almost black, with a metallic lustre ; the head is covered 

 with scale-feathers from emerald-green to deep blue, and the whole of 

 the markings are more distinct and brighter than the English bird. 

 Its most notable distinctions are two small horns of feathers on 

 the head and a ring of pure white round the neck : these are not 

 perfect till the third year. 



The partridge of St. Helena is also a fine bird, of full partridge size, 

 rather slender in shape, light gray colour, with dark, almost black, 

 markings, red beak and legs. It frequents the more barren parts of 

 the island, and has immense power of flight and a habit of running up 

 the rocks on the valley sides and flying down. The great object in 

 partridge shooting, which would be more properly described in French 

 "c/tasse aux perdrix" is to interrupt the coveys in their accustomed 

 flights, turn them when running to the top of a hill, and otherwise 

 bewilder and bother them till they separate and squat, to be put up 

 singly by the pointer; but this can seldom be done, and the sport is 

 fatiguing and somewhat dangerous from the nature of the ground 

 traversed. 



There is a small species of dove, from Africa ; a few minahs, from 

 India; Java sparrows, whose name indicates their origin; also the 

 "cardinal," from Africa, not very long introduced, but now common: 

 this is of the finch tribe, and when moulting wears a greenish gray 

 tint, hardly distinguishable from a poorly dressed canary, but when 

 summer comes and he appears in a full-dress suit of flame-colour, his 

 appearance, glancing in the sunshine or silling on the topmost sprig 

 of a fruit tree, is most beautiful. He is a mischievous bird, delighting 

 to pick off the buds and blossoms of fruit-trees (possibly in search of 

 insects), and is very difficult to catch, avoiding all kinds of traps : 

 birdlime is generally used, and in their straggles many are injured and 



