1867.] Natural History of Pratas Island. 149 



black moustache. The blue-jackets reported that they had seen 

 a canary, and I afterwards saw myself a yellowish bird resembling 

 the English Siskin, which was probably the bird they had noticed. 

 Another bird, about the size of a blackbird, was of a glossy metallic 

 blue above and fawn-coloured beneath. Its stomach contained the 

 elytra of beetles. A fifth species presented all the appearance of a 

 veritable blackbird, but I could not get near enough to examine it 

 closely. A species of swallow, with glossy bluish back, chestnut 

 neck, and with a speckled fawn-colour underneath, was flying 

 about in considerable numbers ; and on the banks of the shallow 

 inlet I saw a bright-coloured kingfisher, very similar in appearance 

 and size to our own species. There were also some small birds which 

 crossed our path from time to time, with the jerking flight and 

 the chirrup of the hard-billed passeres. Large flocks of Tringas 

 (sandpipers), of at least two species, were visible on the sandy flats 

 of the inlet which were left 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 yellow 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 aquilus), 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 

 fell, a strong guano-like smell pervaded it, which was very dis- 

 agreeable. I measured its expanse of wing, which proved to be 

 nearly 7 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 appear- 

 ance 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 sort of crest, bill yellow, 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. 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 belly white, legs and feet yellow, and completely webbed.' 

 They are common birds on most of these islands, and are well- 



