96 
ST. HELENA. 
is a true native of the Island. It chiefly frequents the outskirts, 
and is generally to be seen running about on the hot stony plains 
more or less covered with wire-grass ( Cynodon dactylon). It feeds upon 
beetles and a small snail (Succinea sp.?) found adhering to and 
hiding under the rocks and stones with which the ground is partly 
coveted. It is rarely, but occasionally, seen inland, sometimes 
in pairs, sometimes in flocks of five or six. It lays, in the 
summer months of December and January, two eggs, in colour 
grey with black markings. It is stated, upon the pretty good 
authority of several persons long resident in the Island, that 
this biid makes no nest, but lays its eggs in dry cow-dung on the 
exposed open ground ; it slightly covers them over, but does not sit 
upon them,* merely returning occasionally to see that they are 
safe, and to take care of the young birds as soon as they are hatched. 
The colour of the eggs so much resembles the material in which 
they are laid and the dry wire grass, that it is difficult to distinguish 
them without careful search. After heavy rain the Wire Bird may 
be seen frequenting and running along the edges of the pools of 
water ; but generally it finds few ponds now in the Island to indulge 
its wading propensities ; this deprivation does not appear, however, 
to interfere with its happiness, for it is very doubtful if it ever leaves 
the Island. 
Order Anseres. 
Fam. Anatidce. 
Anser, Briss. 
A. ferus, Linn.— Domestic Goose. Hab. Europe. Beared in the 
Island. 
Annas, Linn. 
A. boschas, Linn. — Domestic Duck. Hab. Europe. Beared abun- 
dantly in the Island. 
Cairina, Elem. 
C. moschatas, Linn.— Muscovy Duck. Hab. South America. 
A few have been imported into the Island. 
Procellaria, Linn. 
*P. glacialoides, A. Smith.— Bight-whale-bird. Two were 
* Mr. Harting considers that this must he a mistake, and that the bird only covers its esss 
to hide them in its absence, as is the case with Gallinula ckloropus, Podieeps minor and 
other species. * 
