Grayson.} 292 [June 7, 



"Our camp was now put into systematic order. We constructed 

 seats of boxes, and out of the hatch covering of the sloop we made 

 convenient tables, also swinging shelves for drying specimens upon. 

 The stove was put up for cooking, and an excellent fish (called by 

 the Mexicans ccibreca), was caught with hook and line, just as needed 

 for the table. This species is very abundant and fat, some of the 

 largest would weigh from ten to twenty pounds ; they are oblong in 

 shape, with large mouth, and of mottled brown and grey color, swim 

 near the bottom and are very voracious. There are several other 

 species in great abundance, some of which are very pretty. One 

 kind is of a brilliant bluish green color ; another species resembles 

 the gold fish. Many of these fish are new to me, and may be to sci- 

 ence, but I was unprepared for preserving specimens of this nature 

 for the want of alcohol. 



"As our small stock of provisions would soon be exhausted, we 

 came to the conclusion that fish would be our principal means* of 

 subsistence ; under these circumstances, however, we were in good 

 spirits, and went to work as though nothing had happened, in mak- 

 ing collections and exploring the Island. 



"The climate is very uniform and balmy, in the shade the ther- 

 mometer varying only from 70° to 75° Fh., and almost a constant 

 breeze from the west or northwest. On the 21st we went some dis- 

 tance exploring and hunting. My son discovered the signs of the 

 hogs, a pah of which I left here two years ago ; Trom the number of 

 tracks large and small seen, they have increased. This was a happy 

 discovery, as we could now have lard to fry our fish. He captured 

 a very small owl and a new dove, both new species I think. I found 

 the country exceedingly rough and barren of trees, with the excep- 

 tion of a few scattering ones in the gorges, though otherwise clothed 

 with low brush, of a species of wormwood, also coarse grass and 

 weeds ; these, combined with the sharp volcanic stones, made my prog- 

 ress tedious and irksome. I found no indications of mammals of any 

 kind, and no new species of birds other than those found in our little 

 green cove. Shot two hawks (Buteo montanus) and returned late in 

 the evening very much fatigued. 



"May 22. Preparing specimens all day. We captured all the 

 birds, with a few exceptions, by means of a running noose fixed to 

 the end of a slender pole, which is cautiously slipped over the vic- 

 tim's head, and with a sudden jerk the bird is secured alive ; this 

 extraordinary mode of catching birds I learned from the Mexicans 



