460 MR. O. SALVIN ON THE AVIFAUNA 
“‘Mr. Rubira now arrived from Ballenita, where he had been to complete the purchase 
of a sloop he had bought of a man at the second landing-place, who was occupied in 
fishing; so we all embarked in her and sailed in the evening of the 23rd on a recon- 
noitring cruise. We sailed first for Tower Island, which we reached the next day. 
Landing Mr. Rubira and his partner, we proceeded to anchor in another place, and 
there remained till the next day. I felt sorry not to visit Tower Island myself, as I 
consider it one of the most interesting of the group as regards its ornithology. This 
island, being very rarely disturbed by vessels, has become the breeding-place of many 
sea-birds, for example, the Man-of-war bird’ and others; and consequently many species 
are found here not to be seen on the other islands. 
‘The Gannet of Tower Island has red legs and feet’, while the feet and legs of that on 
Hood and Charles Islands are blue, the body being white and the wings blackish grey. 
On Tower Island also a small species is found with chocolate-coloured plumage. Of 
this species a specimen was caught on board the sloop, and secured by tying it by the 
leg until I had an opportunity of dissecting it. But on Bindloe it was liberated by 
somebody, and so I lost the specimen. The most interesting bird I observed was one 
with white plumage all over, except the wings, which had black bands. Its long tail 
resembled that of a Macaw, but its body was smaller, its bill being straight and of a 
red colour’. I have no doubt that a thorough exploration of Tower Island would 
repay the explorer by the discovery of many species not to be found elsewhere. 
“During the night of October 25th we sailed for Bindloe, which island we reached 
the next forenoon. After anchoring, a boat went off to search for a suitable place for 
encamping; we reached the one selected next morning. I did not go on shore till the 
day after, when every thing had been arranged in the tent. As the sloop was despatched 
on the 19th November to get a supply of terrapin and water, I went in her to visit 
other islands. We sailed first for Abingdon; but finding neither terrapins nor water, 
we made sail November 21st for Albemarle Island, where we arrived in the evening of 
the 23rd, and anchored in Tagus Cove. The next morning we went on shore—a rather 
perilous task, the surf being very high. Leaving one man to fill the casks with water, 
which in several places oozed out of the rocks near the sea, most of it being not sweet 
enough to drink, the rest of the party went off to look for terrapins. At the spring I 
saw a wild cat come down to drink; and the men told me there were many wild cats, 
dogs, and also asses on Albemarle. The two latter are also to be seen on Indefatigable 
and Chatham Islands, wild horses being also found on the last named. Of birds I 
observed two kinds of Hawks, Dendreca aureola, and some species of Geospiza, which 
appeared to differ from those I collected elsewhere, and which I consider to belong to 
species distinct from any in my collection. Camarhynchus habeli is also found on 
Albemarle, and also Zenaida galapagensis; but I saw no Mocking Thrushes. 
“We left Albemarle on the last day of November for Bindloe, arriving at the northern 
’ Fregata aquila. 2 Probably Sula piscator. ° Phaeton ethereus. 
