PACIFIC AND BEERING’S STRAIT. 
519 
We saw no wild animals of the mammalia class except the vampire CHAP, 
hat, which was very tame. Some measured three feet across the 
wings when fully extended, and were eight or nine inches in length in June, 
the body. We frequently saw them flying ; but they were more fond of 
climbing about the trees, and hanging by their hind claw, which ap- 
pears to be their natural position when feeding. Some were observed 
with their young at their breast, concealed by the wide membrane of 
their wing. The tongue of this animal is unusually large, and fur- 
nished with fleshy papillm on the upper surface. Here we also found 
another species of vespertilio. 
Of birds we saw some handsome brown herons with white crests ; 
plovers, rails, snipes, wood-pigeons, and the common black crow ; a small 
bird resembling a canary, and a grossbeak. They were very tame, 
and until alarmed at the noise of a gun suffered themselves to be 
approached. 
The sea abounded in fish, some of which were very beautiful in 
colour. We noticed the green fish mentioned at Gambier Island, and a 
gold-coloured fish of the same genus, both extremely splendid in their 
appearance. A dentex resembling our carp, a small rayfish, and some 
large eels, one of which weighed tw'enty pounds, were caught in the fresh 
W'ater. We took forty-four turtles on board for sea stock, besides con- 
suming two a day while we remained in port, weighing each about three 
hundred- weight. 
The weather during our stay was fine, but oppressively warm ; and 
though we had no rain, the atmosphere was generally saturated with 
moisture. There was a thick fog to windward of the islands almost 
the whole of the time ; but it dispersed on its passage over the land, 
and the lee side was generally clear. 
While our operations at the port were in progress. Lieutenant 
Belcher circumnavigated Peel’s Island in the cutter, and discovered a 
large bay at the south-east angle of the island, which afforded very secure 
anchorage from all winds except the south-east ; as this is the prevalent 
wind during the summer, it is not advisable to anchor there in that 
season. I named it Fitton Bay, in compliment to Dr. Fitton, late pre- 
sident of the Geological Society. Mr. Elson also was employed outside 
