214 NOTES OF A NATURALIST. 



On the evening of the ist the barometer had risen 

 about a tenth of an inch, but by the following morning 

 had returned to the same point (very nearly thirty 

 inches) as on the previous day, without any change 

 in the state of the weather ; but we enjoyed more 

 sunshine, and the proceedings of the birds that cease- 

 lessly bore us company afforded us constant occupa- 

 tion and amusement. Two species were predominant. 

 One of these was the well-known cape pigeon {Daption 

 capensis), familiar to all mariners in the southern 

 hemisphere. This is a handsome bird, much larger 

 than a pigeon, exhibiting a considerable variety of 

 plumage in what appeared to be adult individuals. 

 In all the ground colour is white, and the tips of the 

 spreading tail feathers are dark brown or nearly black. 

 The upper surface of the wings sometimes showed a 

 somewhat tesselated pattern of white and dark brown, 

 but more commonly were marked by two transverse 

 dark bands, with pure white between. They were 

 very numerous, as many as from fifty to a hundred 

 being near the ship at the same time, keeping close 

 company, and often swooping over the deck a few 

 feet over our heads ; but, although seemingly fearless, 

 they never were induced to take a piece of meat from 

 a man's hand, though the temptation was often re- 

 newed. The next in frequency — called on this coast 

 colomba — is nearly as large as the cape pigeon, with 

 plumage much resembling that of a turtle dove. This 

 also approached very near. Both of these birds seemed 

 to feel fatigue, as, after circling round the ship for half 

 an hour at a time, they would rest on the surface of 

 the water, dropping rapidly astern, but after some 



