xiv AVIFAUNA OF LAYSAN. 



two eggs in of the Brown Gannet, and a number of young ; but to my surprise I found the 

 old birds belonging to these just as shy as those without egg* or young, so, in spite of my 

 former statements, I must come to the conclusion that this is a shy species, The nests were 

 built of grass on the ground and each nest contained two eggs, but I never found more than 

 one young one in a nest. To-day I saw for the first time some of the Frigate-birds chasing the 



Bed-tailed Tropic-birds. 



Ju l y iG.— I have nothing of interest to report to-day. except that I watched the small 

 White Tern (Gygis) feeding its young. The adult bird brings small fish to the young in its 

 bill and the young one takes it from its mouth. One 1 saw had no less than four in its 

 beak at once: I cannot understand how it can catch fish while it already has some in its bill ; 

 1 could never see them in the act of fishing, in order to find out. 



Ju l y 17 ._I am once more on board. Owing to losing my tape and rule I was unable to 

 measure any of the birds from the two shoals of Midway Island. 



j u ly is.— Started for Maro Reef. 



M y 20.— Captain Walker has changed his mind and is going straight back to 

 Honolulu. 



From July 21s I to the 18th of Augmt.-We spent all this time in going back to Hono- 

 lulu from Midway Island. We saw a few birds of well-known sorts round the vessel all the 

 way, and I caught several specimens. The only bird I saw fresh was a large brown Gull 

 (probably a Skua). I had a terrible time with the skins, nothing seemed to kill the beetles 

 (Dermestes), for unfortunately the whole vessel swarmed with them. I believe I saw also 

 another species of Petrel as we neared Kauai ; it was large with white breast and brown back 

 A Kolea (Golden Plover, Charadrius f ulcus) flew also round the ship, and considerably 

 astonished me by settling on the water several times to rest, 



August 18.— At last we have reached Honolulu after a month's dreadful journey from 

 Midway Island. I never was more pleased in my life than when I found myself on shore in 



Honolulu once more. 



So ends three months' suffering under the famous Captain P. P>. Walker. 



^ 0TE _l have given this Diary as fully as possible, only cutting out such parts that I 

 considered of no interest to anyone but myself, such as details of expense, quarrels with the 

 captain, &c. Of course I had to condense the matter to some extent.— W. 11. 



