460 MB. O. SALVIN ON THE AVIFAUNA 



" Mr. Eubira 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. Eubira 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 oflF 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, Dendrceca aureola, and some species of Geospiza, which 

 appeared to difl'er from those I collected elsewhere, and which I consider to belong to 

 species distinct from any in my collection. Camarhynchus haheli 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 

 ' Fregaia aquila. ' 'Pidbahlj Sula piscator. ' Phaeton cetliereus. 



