AVES. 
97 
caught with an ordinary fishing-hook and line, in October, 1868, off 
Speery Island ; but it is rare. 
Fam. Felecanidce. 
Thalassidroma ?, Sw. 
,K T. melanogaster ? — Mother Carey’s Chicken. A small species 
of petrel frequenting the sea around the Island, but not very abun- 
dant ; lays in November. 
SulaP, Briss. 
*S. sp. ? — Booby. This bird is seldom found on the Island, 
but frequents the neighbourhood. It is often seen from shipboard 
hear the land, but I have not had an opportunity of examining 
a specimen. 
Tachypetes, Y. 
T* aquilus, Binn. — Man-of-war-bird. Although there is a 
part of the south-west coast designated “Man-of-war Boost,” deriv- 
ing its name from this bird, and there is still living evidence of 
its having once frequented even the landing- steps at Jamestown, 
A is seldom now to be met with, nor is it easy to assign a reason 
tor its disappearance from the Island. 
Phaeton, Linn. 
P. aethereus, Linn. — Tropic-bird. Very abundant on the 
southern and eastern, or windward coasts of the Island, which, being 
furthest away from the haunts of man and also more precipitous 
than other parts, are well adapted to the bird’s peculiar habit of 
dropping itself down from a ledge in order to enable it to rise on 
the wing, a feat which it is unable to accomplish when sitting on 
tbe ground. It inhabits holes in the perpendicular face of the 
cliffs, from one to two thousand feet above the sea, and goes out 
regularly in the early morning to fish for food, returning homewards 
about three or four o’clock in the afternoon. At this time of the 
day Tropic-birds are easily shot; and it is to be regretted that 
ese beautiful and peaceful creatures suffer so much persecution as 
bey do for the sake of the plumes they afford for ladies’ hats, 
lopic-bird-shooting at St. Helena is accomplished by taking up a 
1 sitiou on the ledges above their holes and nests, while- a boy is 
