22 SOME NOTES ON LAND-BIRDS 



Here some dragon flies came round the ship- but a dense 

 fog coming on until up to Thunder Head prevented anything 

 else being seen. Of Thunder Head the sea greatly dis- 

 coloured by plankton, which extended some distance below 

 the surface. A calm sea enabled a good view of conditions 

 under water. This evening when passing 4 miles east of 

 Chapel Island several small flocks of some sea-bird were 

 seen. I have never identified these yet, as I have never 

 been able to get a good view so that I could describe them. 



August 16th. — Between Turnabout and Tung Yung 

 Islands. A moderate S.W. monsoon. Cloudy but fine. 

 Flying fish were to be seen occasionally. I also saw a 

 petrel, it passed close to, but I was unable to get my bino- 

 culars on to it in time. Colour generally blackish, but there 

 was some white about it, tail straight. And it appeared to 

 be a new species to me. Detached shore weed seen in long 

 streaky patches marking the extent of the tide. At noon 

 when nearrAg Tung Yung Island I saw a good many dragon 

 flies, which remained round the ship until sunset. I saw a 

 small flock of sea-birds like those of yesterday. Flying fish 

 were not seen after passing Tung Yung. Before sunset I 

 saw an albatross in the distance. 



August 17th. — Bullock Harbour. Typhoon; wind N. to 

 N.E. (7). A hard gale all day, moderating somewhat at 

 sunset. I heard a land-bird calling at 7 p.m. 



August 19th. — Left Bullock at 5 a.m. Gale moderating 

 wind N. (5-6). Heavy rain squalls. A pair of swallows 

 were seen at the Eastern Entrance. Passing through She- 

 tung Pass one gull (L canus) and one albatross (D albatrus) 

 were seen, this last was flying close into the land, which I was 

 surprised to see. I also saw a flock of terns, possibly the com- 

 mon tern, but the weather was too wet to use my binoculars 

 with advantage. Also, I noted another tern, with blackish 

 wings and back, underparts white. After leaving the Pass 

 nothing further was seen until nearly sunset, when a few 

 boobies were met with chasing shoals of fish. At night a 

 moth flew into the chart-room. The sea was very phospho- 

 rescent at night. 



August 20th. — Being 6 miles east of Pat ah ek ok. 

 Moderate N.E. gale (5-6); fine and clear. A few common 

 terns were seen, sometimes at rest on the water, or hawking 

 for food. 



August 21st. — Off Block House Buoy. A small king- 

 fisher rests on board and several small tern were seen. 



August 24th. — Shanghai to Haichow. Wind North (3); 

 very fine and clear. Approaching Pingtau Island. A few 

 common terns seen flying round and busily feeding; great 



