AYES. 
89 
“ On placing tlie two species 
appear as follows : — 
Bill. 
in. 
JE. variiis ft. pecuarius . "6 ... 
JE. sancta-helence . . '8 
in juxtaposition, tlieir relative sizes 
Wing. 
Bare tibia. 
Tarsus. 
Mid. toe. 
in. 
in. 
in. 
in. 
4-0 .. 
.. 5 ... 
1-2 
... 7 
4-5 . 
.. -7 ... 
1-5 
... -95 
“ Independently of its larger size, longer and more robust bill 
and tarsi, the * Wire-bird’ may be distinguished from its continental 
ally by the colour of the primaries, in which the shaft of the rs 
quill only is white, the other shafts being dusky brown ; m the other 
species all the shafts are mesially white. 
The seabirds are also interesting, inasmuch as they bear so 
great an analogy to those of the Polynesian Islands in the South 
Pacific ocean. , 
In the following list several cage-birds have been included, 
being those most abundantly kept in the Island, and it being just 
possible that, like the Java Sparrow, they may also breed there; 
many other West-African birds are taken to the Island and 
kept as cage -birds in addition to those mentioned. Not included m 
this list is another land-bird, a small Finch, of the size of Crithagra 
butyracea or Euplectes madagascariensis , which during the last year 
or two has made its appearance in the Island, and been called the 
“ Orange bird there is nothing to show how or whence this 
bird came thither. It is most probably a mixture of the cardinal 
and canary, and has its name from its breast being of the colour of a 
ripe orange. It is very scarce. 
It is said that two more species also not included in this list exist 
in the Island, namely, a larger Ground Dove, and a sea-biid called 
the “ Blackbird.” I have not met with either of these, but as a 
large species of Noddy does exist at St. Helena I am not quite sure 
that the latter may not be found identical with it, though I am 
inclined to believe, from the description of it given by fishermen and 
others who have seen it, that it may turn out to be a black Tern 
different from the Noddy. Strange birds do occasionally visit the 
Island, but generally one at a time. In IS 69 a small black swallow 
hovered about the rocky cliffs at Ladder Hill for several days, and a 
solitary rail, not unlike the Gullinula cristata of Java, was caught at 
Lemon Valley. There are other instances also of new species 
appearing for a short time. The opinion that such birds naturally 
