Ch. n.] BIRDS OP PEATAS ISLAND. 29 



uncovered in the afternoon, and also upon some parts of the 

 seaward shore of the island, where it was inclined to be soft 

 and marshy. There were also two species of plover, the one 

 of a reddish-brown colour, with orange-red legs ; the other 

 of a delicate mouse colour, with yeUow legs ; and a godwit 

 (Limosa), speckled grey and brown, with greenish legs and 

 a recurved beak, A large rapacious-looking bird, which 

 came sailing majestically within gunshot, was brought down, 

 and turned out to be the frigate bird (Tachypetes aqiulus), 

 a bird confined to tropical regions, but having a wide range 

 throughout them, being not uncommon both in the Atlantic 

 and Pacific Oceans. "When it feU, a strong guano-hke smell 

 pervaded it, which was very disagreeable. I measured its 

 expanse of wing, which proved to be nearly seven feet from tip 

 to tip ; and on opening its stomach I found, in a partially 

 digested state, three large flying fishes and two squids. Small 

 flocks of a pretty species of white egret frequently flew along 

 the shore, and indeed, with gannets, made their appearance 

 about the ship immediately upon her anchoring off the shoal. 

 I shot one from the ship for examination, and found it to be 

 20 inches long from tip of beak to end of tail, and of a pure 

 white colour, with the exception of a few orange feathers 

 over the base of the beak, which formed a crest ; biU yeUow, 

 and legs greenish brown. It was not provided with any of 

 those special feathers which adorn our British species. The 

 stomach contained a few remains of beetles. 



But. the dominant and characteristic bird of Pratas Island 

 is the Gannet (Sula alba). These birds measure 4 ft. 10 in. 

 from tip to tip of wing, and 2 ft. 9 in. total length from beak 

 to tail, which is wedge-shaped. The head, neck, back, and 

 tail are fuscous, breast and beUy white, legs and feet yellow, 

 and completely webbed. They are common birds on most 



