Feb. 1830. ANSON’S VOYAGE—SEAL—BIRDs. 307 
nineteen fathoms, and the depth between the points of the bay 
is shown to be about fifty fathoms. 
There are few persons who have not read, with much interest, 
Mr. Walter’s account of the Centurion’s voyage, and who are 
not well acquainted with his description of this island, which 
we found exceedingly correct: The views of the land, although 
old-fashioned in execution, are most correctly delineated, and 
the plan of the bay is quite sufficient for every common pur- 
pose of navigation; but as-we had an opportunity of fixing its 
latitude and longitude more correctly, it became desirable to 
make a more detailed plan than Commodore Anson’s. 
The seals and sea-lions, which were so abundant formerly, 
are now reduced to such a small number, as to make the seal- 
fishery scarcely worth notice. They have been destroyed by 
taking them indiscriminately, without regard to age or sex, 
leaving none to propagate the race but those who by chance 
escaped. At present the island is let to a tenant, who is not 
permitted to kill them until the young have taken to the water, 
by which means an opportunity is given for them to increase. ~ 
I am not aware that there are any indigenous animals. Dogs, 
goats, and rats, have been imported. Land birds are not nume- 
rous ; some pigeons, said to have been imported, and a few 
hawks, are occasionally seen, besides three species of humming- 
birds, two of which are new to science.* Of sea-birds we saw 
very few; but were informed that the * Goat Islands,’ at the 
south-west end of Juan Fernandez, are completely covered by 
them at the breeding season. 
During our stay, several excursions were made, in various 
directions, from the village, and much facilitated by beaten 
paths, one of which leads up a valley, westward of that of the 
*Trochilus Fernandensis, nob. Troch : ferugineo-rufus ; capitis vertice 
splendento-coccineo ; remigibus fuscis. Long. 5 uncias, 
Trochilus Stokesii, nob. Troch: corpore supra viridi-splendente, subtus 
albo, viridi-guttato ; capite supra, guttisque confertis gule lazulino-splenden- 
tibus: remigibus fusco-atris ; remigum omnium, mediis exceptis, pogoniis 
internis albis. Long. 44 uncias. Proceed. Zool. Society, vol. i.; also 
Phil. Magazine, for March 1831, p. 227. 
ee) 
