486 MR. O. SALVIN ON THE AVIFAUNA 
“T found seeds in the stomachs of almost all of the specimens of Cactornis obtained 
on Indefatigable, whilst fibres of Opuntia were found in those from Bindloe. The 
reason of this doubtless is to be found in the fact that in the former island are many 
ponds of brackish water, where all the birds resort to drink. No such ponds exist on 
Bindloe or Abingdon, still less springs of water. Consequently the birds are entirely 
restricted for water to the morning dew and the drops produced by steam which, issuing 
out of the crevices of the rocks, becomes condensed on the foliage of the surrounding 
herbage. On Bindloe and Abingdon these birds resort more to the juice of the succu- 
lent leaves and fruit of the different species of Opuntia. Thus feeding, the feathers of 
the face of these birds become matted together. heir food also includes some gravel 
and insects.”—H. 
CACTORNIS ASSIMILIS. 
Cactornis assimilis, Gould, P. Z. S. 1837, p. 7; Darwin, Zool. Voy. Beagle, ii. p. 105; Scl. & Saly. 
P. Z.S. 1870, p. 323. 
3 hornot. fuliginosus, plumis singulis pallidiore fusco marginatis: subtus, precipue 
in ventre imo et crisso, plumarum marginibus latioribus: rostro flavescenti-corneo, 
pedibus corylinis: long. tota 5:0, ale 2°7, caude 1°65, tarsi 0°8, rostri a rictu 0°75. 
? et d juv. omnino similes sunt. 
Hab. Galapagos (Darwin); Bindloe Island (Habel). 
Obs. Sp. C. scandenti similis sed rostro robustiore forsan differt. 
None of Dr. Habel’s birds are adult; so that we have not yet seen that state of this 
species, which differs only slightly from C. scandens, and may ultimately prove to be 
not really distinct. Dr. Habel’s note on it is as follows :—‘ All my specimens of this 
species were shot whilst feeding on the cactus plants. From the agglutinated state of 
the feathers of the face, which is more commonly seen in this than in other birds, it 
would appear that it feeds almost exclusively on the cactus. One of the females had 
very few feathers on the head and neck, and those badly trimmed in consequence of her 
rubbing and scratching her head. This I found to be occasioned by the presence of 
parasitic worms situated under the external covering of the skull.”—//. 
CACTORNIS ABINGDONI. 
Cactornis abingdoni, Saly. P. Z. 8. 1870, p. 326. 
Fuscescenti-nigra, alis caudaque nigris fusco anguste limbatis: subtus nigra, ventre 
fuscescentiore et griseo variegato: tectricibus subalaribus nigricantibus: rostro elongato 
incurvo nigro: pedibus obscure fuscis: long. tota 5:0, alee 2°8, caude 1°6, rostri a rictu 
0:8, tarsi 0°9. 
Hab. Abingdon Island (Habel). 
Obs. Proxima C. scandenti, sed rostro elongato, magis compresso, nigro differt. 
The narowness and the black colour of the bill seem to distinguish this bird from 
