311 



deep-red surface-spots and blotches. Some are but sparingly marked with spots or heavy 

 blotches, whereas others are profusely covered with larger or smaller markings. In size thirty 

 eggs in my collection vary from lf^ by 1^ to 2^- by 1^§ inch. The major portion of these 

 eggs were obtained for me by the late Captain Rowland M. Sperling, who published the fol- 

 lowing notes (Ibis, 1868, p. 286) respecting his visit to the breeding-colony on the island of 

 Ascension, viz. : — " On the 8th of last June I was literally cast on shore on the island of Ascension ; 

 for the periodical rollers were dashing against the coast and my boat was upset in the surf; so 

 giving myself a good shake, as the only available means of drying my clothes, I started for 

 'Wide-awake Fair,' the name which the blue-jackets who have visited the place have considered 

 an appropriate one to designate the spot where the birds gather for nesting-purposes. Leaving 

 Comfortless Cove about the middle of the day, I walked over two dreary miles of cinders and 

 ashes, uncheered by a symptom of vegetation, before I noticed flocks of Terns converging from 

 various parts of the ocean to a spot apparently about a mile in front of me ; but as yet I observed 

 nothing of the 'fair:' at length, on turning slightly to the left and surmounting a low ridge, 

 the whole scene was disclosed. 



" A gradual incline of a quarter of a mile terminated in a plain of ten or fifteen acres in 

 extent, which was literally covered with the birds. The plain was surrounded by low mountains, 

 except on the side on which we stood; and being entirely sheltered from the wind, its heat 

 under the full blaze of a tropical sun was very oppressive. No description can give an adequate 

 idea of the effect produced by the thousands upon thousands of these wild sea-birds floating and 

 screaming over this arid cinder-bed, the eggs and young scattered so thickly on the ground that 

 in some instances it was impossible to avoid crushing them and the bleached bones of dead birds 

 distributed in all directions. During our short walk down the incline, large flocks of parent 

 birds hovered over our heads, and assailed us with plaintive cries, regardless of our sticks, with 

 which we might have killed any number of them ; but their beautiful pure dark and white 

 plumage and graceful motions caused it to appear almost a sin to knock any of them down. On 

 arriving within the precincts of the breeding-grounds their numbers increased ; large flocks were 

 arriving in endless succession from seaward; clouds of birds rose from the ground, and, joining 

 those already attending us, their wheelings and gyrations almost made us giddy. I sat down on 

 a lump of cinder ; and the society, being at length convinced that my policy was not aggressive, 

 went on with the ordinary routine of incubation. 



"There were young of all sizes, from the little callow ones just hatched to the nearly fledged 

 birds that fluttered and crawled like young pigeons. There were also lots of eggs exposed on the 

 bare ground ; but in most instances the old bird sat on its solitary treasure, hissing defiance as I 

 approached, and fighting manfully if I attempted to remove it. The young are of a very light 

 sooty colour both above and beneath, the ends of most of the feathers having a white spot the 

 size of a pea, which gives them a speckled appearance. The whole of the ' fair,' both in smell 

 and in appearance, reminds one of the effect produced by a sudden entry into a large pigeon- 

 house. 



" In the interstices of the scoriae and lava round this nursery lurk numbers of wild cats (not 

 Felis catus, but the domestic breed run wild) ; and the bones of both old and young birds tell 

 the tale of the ravages they commit. 



