480 



ME. H. HIDLET ON THE 



oval and blunt at both ends, 2^ inches long, and about 1 inch 

 through in the thickest part, chalky-white in colour, marked 

 somewhat sparingly with underlying ash-grey, and overlying 

 sienna. A living young bird from the nest was brought to me, 

 but soon died. — H. N. B.'] 



5. Gtgis CANDIDA (Gm.) ; SJtarpe, t. c. p. 465. 



One adult and two youug birds. The latter are white like 

 the old birds, but have much smaller bills. 



[This is a common bird in many parts of the island, nesting 

 in trees, especially those of the Sapate, where there is a colony 

 near that of the An 021 s. The bird is called "Yiuva bianca." — 



jr. jsr. B.-] 



Pam. Pelecanid^. 



6. Phaethon ^theeeus {L.); Scl. 4' ^alv. Nomencl. Av. 

 p. 124. 



Of this Tropic-bird two specimens were procured. It is 

 common on the island, nesting on the Peak and on other rocks 

 and cliffs. An egg was obtained on St. Michael's Mount. The 

 birds were taken in snares by the convicts. 



7. SULA LEUCOaASTEA. 



An adult and a young bird. This species of Gannet, known 

 as " Mbebu," is a common bird, nesting on cliffs on all the 

 islands. The young are pure white. 



Besides these birds we saw several of which no specimejis 

 were procured. TacJiypetes aquila was abundant, nesting on St. 

 Michael's Mount, and a small sjDecies of Albatros appeared several 

 times round the island, but kept well out of gun-shot. Three 

 species of Waders were seen : — One, a small Plover, of w^hich we 

 twice saw a flock at San Antonio Bay, and once or twice single 

 birds flying along the coral-reefs ; a bird resembling a Yellow- 

 shank, grey and white, of which a pair appeared at San Antonio 

 at the end of our visit ; and a single specimen of a Sandpij^er, at 

 the same spot and time. These wading birds were all very shy, 

 in marked contrast to the endemic species, which suggested that 

 they were migrants, and had come from the mainland, where they 

 are more cautious at the sight of man. The last two species 

 appeared on the same day towards the end of our visit, which 

 confirmed the view that they were migrating. 



