1 2 YESSO. 



crows (Corvus japonensis), which in the afternoon regu- 

 larly flew ofif to the ship. Such a thing they had 

 evidently never seen before, and lighting on the rigging, 

 the two birds would earnestly converse in their own 

 way as they looked down on. us ; turning their heads 

 so as to search with their sharp eyes every nook and 

 corner on deck. After remaining about the ship for some 

 time, away on shore they would fly, returning next day 

 about the same time. Similar instances of this bird com- 

 ing off to the ship I had often observed at other places. 

 In one spot where I frequently anchored, a pair of pied 

 wagtails regularly flew on board, and in a perfectly fear- 

 less manner hunted the flies about the deck, the cock 

 bird every now and then flying into the rigging, where he 

 would perch for ten minutes or so, singing very prettily. 

 In the north part of Kunasliir Island the sea-otter 

 is common. I shot here the grey plover (Vanellus 

 griseus) in perfect summer plumage, and I have no 

 doubt the bird was then breeding. Sea-trout were in 

 the small rivers, and river-trout appeared to flourish 

 in every tiny stream. Herrings of course abounded. 

 The business of the small Japanese settlement on 

 the island, as at Nemero, is to cure the hard roe. 

 Amongst the great numbers of seals everywhere about, 

 both here and in Yesso, I never saw more than one 

 species, which I considered to be Phoca vitidina. On 



