93 [Vol. xvi. 



account of the weather^ to leave without being able to land. 

 Eight days later we anchored at Bahia, where we were 

 delayed until December 30th, but during our stay we made 

 several excursions to the Island of Staparica, and on two 

 occasions we camped there for two nights. I collected a 

 number of birds on this island as well as mammals. At 

 6 a.m., on January 3rd, 1906, South Trinidad was sighted, 

 and a f eAv hours later we steamed close up to the leeward side 

 of the island, and landed on a promontory of rock. The 

 sea was perfectly smooth and landing was easy. Trinidad 

 swarmed with birds, and I made a large collection of sea- 

 birds. We climbed to the top of the island and thoroughly 

 explored the groves of tree-ferns, as well as the other vege- 

 tation, but without finding any trace of a land-bird, and I 

 am quite certain that no such thing exists on this island. 

 Sea-birds there are in plenty as well as mice. The 

 lower slopes of this island, the zoology of which is so 

 little known, are covered with a tall straggling grass ; 

 higher up in the watercourses a species of fern grows in 

 abundance. At an elevation of about 1500 ft. the troves 

 of tree-ferns begin, while on the top of the island at an 

 elevation of from 1975-2000 feet there are a number of trees 

 and a large patch of bushes. Gannets {Sula jpiscatorj and 

 White Terns {Gygis sp.) are the only birds breeding at this 

 elevation. Farther down, on the rocky hillsides, the Petrels 

 &]strelata trinitatis and OE. wilsoni were nesting, the former, 

 which is by far the rarer of the two, had young, but the 

 latter were apparently only just pairing, though I found 

 one fresh egg. Although I specially searched for it, I saw 

 no signs of OEstrelata arminjoniana. 



"The Greater Frigate-bird {Fregata aquila) was very 

 abundant, but did not seem to be breeding at the time of 

 our visit. The Lesser Frigate-bird {Fregata ariel) was 

 seen several times, but only one specimen, an adult male was 

 obtained. After spending two delightful days on South 

 Trinidad, we sailed for Tristan da Cunha, first, however, 

 visiting the islets of Martin Yas, which lie twenty-six 

 miles from South Trinidad. We rowed round the largest of 



