218 Dr. O. Finsch’s Ornithological 
XVIII.—Ornithological Letters from the Pacific. No. I1.* 
By Orro Finscn, Ph.D. 
Taluit (Bonham), Marshall Islands, 
September 20, 1879. 
We left Honolulu on board the Hawaiian bark ‘ Hawai,’ 
and arrived here on the 21st of August, after having been 
nearly wrecked as we entered the passage into the lagoon on 
the preceding evening. Apart from this incident the voyage 
was very calm and slow. We had but gentle breezes, and 
were delayed for some time in the doldrums, between 7° and 
5° N. lat. During our passage we only sighted land once, 
on the 16th of August—the Milli or Mulgrave’s Islands, 
which group is only about 350 sea-miles distant from this. 
During the whole voyage bird-life was very scarce, as was 
animal-life in general. The dredge brought up nothing but 
a few very small zoophytes ; and no shark or any other big 
fish was seen until we reached this group. Flying-fishes 
were sometimes numerous, but for days together not a single 
one was observed. 
The number of specimens and species observed in ornitho- 
logy was very small ; but I think I may venture to give some 
of my notes on them from my diary. 
July 30th. One Puffinus, first species (black above, 
white underneath) ; one, second species (brown, paler un- 
derneath) ; one Procellaria, first species (uniform sooty 
brown). 
July 3lst One Procellaria (same species as yester- 
day); two Phaeton (ethereus) ; one Sterna (? lunata) ; im the 
evening, late, a Sula (uniform brown; certainly S. fusca). 
August Ist. Twice a Tropic-bird (Phaeton ethereus) ; 
one Sula. 
Aug. 2nd. Four Phaeton ethereus; one Sula cyanops ; 
one Procellaria, first species (brown, white underneath). 
Aug. 8rd. One Procellaria, first species; one Phaeton ; 
in the distance one Tachypetes (the most elegant and Eagle- 
like flyer of the ocean). 
* For No. I. see ‘ Ibis,’ 1880, p. 75. 
