321

Galapagos Isd — Chatham Isd

1835 Sept.

Onchidium 1277 Abundant beneath tidal stones. Color above "blackish green", beneath white.— Form nearly circular, or when crawling, oval.— Extreme length in this state 1.5inch.— generally 1.2 long & .9 broard.— Upper surface on mantle thickly covered with short obtuse conical points.— Margin of mantle fimbriated, excepting in front over the head.— These fimbriæ consist of [sketch] tapering conical projections (about .2 long), these have on the side 3 or more elongated ones & on upper surface several, which near base decrease in length & mix amongst the Points on the Back.— The alternates ones fimbriæ are placed a trifle higher & lower.— Extremities of Fimbriæ nearly white.— Tentacula (with terminal eye) & folds coloured green.— the latter large & semicircular.—

Actinia (1278) Body cylindrical much elongated, loosely attached to broken fragments of shells, & buried deeply in tidal sand.— When mouth is retracted, quite cylindrical, 2-5 inches long. Color uniform most beautiful Carmine "Lake Red".— When Mouth flower is expanded, body slightly conical: 3 inches long.— Flower flat, fleshy, 2 inches

322

Galapagos Isd

1835.

Actinia in diameter.— Mantle Snow white.— Mouth in centre, lips pale brown.— From this to circumference, flower obscurely radiated into narrow [illeg] divisions.— These stuffed with small short papillæ.— [sketch] Beneath the flower there is a collar: obscurely longitudinally lobed.— This forms division from the body.— Mouth is within longitudinally folded (some of these extended with fluid). Its brown color is joined to the white of flower by serrated edge.— From the centre of the mouth there is protruded a zigzag (like section of bud) delicate membrane; precisely as happened in the Caryophillia at the C. de Verde Isds.— Point of attachment narrow flat rough.— Whole animal most beautiful.—

Onchidium 1285 Ordinary length 1.3 inch, breadth 1 inch.— depressed, rounded oval.— Upper surface black with tint of green, beneath pale.— Mantle far surpassing foot, studded with very short round little elevations: edges very thin & entire: consistance cartilaginous, very tough.— Tentacula greenish .25 in length, are received pass edge of mantle in a little groove, .1 in length, projects beyond mantle.—

323

Galapagos Isd

1835

Onchidium The thin membranes fold beneath tentacula. nearly circular, broard, very large, slightly sinuated, but not bilobed.— longitudinal mouth in the lower part of surface.— Mouth can be protruded, consists of muscular tube. [sketch]

Respiratory tube at posterior end very long: between it & the extremity of foot are Anus & generative orifices.— I could not see the Male Organ.— When irritated emits a milky sticky fluid from under edge of mantle & from 10 to 12 longitudinal rows of pores on back or upper surface of mantle.— These rows are parallel & placed in two sets on each side of mantle. In each row there are from 16-20 pores: Pores distinct with minute round eminences. All this is well seen when animal is thrown in Spirits.— Animal inhabits tidal rocks, but different from all other species not on the under sides of loose stones: but on exposed solid surfaces. By the application of thin edge of mantle to all the small inequalities adhæeres very firmly, so as to require knife to detach them; at first

/over

[323v]

(a) sight resembles a smooth Chiton.— Are numerous.— Crawl very slowly.— This is a very distinct species, if not subgenus of Onchidium.—

324

Galapagos Isd —

1835

Muricea Gorgonia (3252) This Corall was taken out of 12 Fathom water: My examination imperfect owing to death of Polype & want of time.— Color dark reddish brown, described as being covered with Slime. Axis blackish brown in extremities, represented by pulpy matter: in all parts encrusted by a back of nearly same nature: When branches are thick is best seen to consist of a net work of red stony little spiculæ, round, tapering towards each end, about 5 times as long as broard, covered over irregularly with sharp points: [sketch] These seem united by a ligamentous matter. This back rises in various points, to form the short conical cells.— The spiculæ here are placed more regularly & imbricated: On the inner, or concave side of back, there are numerous parallel narrow ridges formed of an interlacement of similar, but much more minute stony red tuberculated Spiculæ, which appear placed nearly longitudinally & actually united.— These ridges rise from amongst the coarse substance of back, & are covered by their membrane, which lies on

325

Galapagos Isd

1835

Muricea (a) the smooth horny axis. The intervals therefore between the ridges form so many distinct longitudinal vessels.— The cells seem to lie over these at different lengths.—

The cells in the main branches have nearly a central orifice, but generally the cell is hood shaped, the orifice being only a slit up under the curved point & which looks towards extremities of branches. (This differs entirely from Lamouroux's account & must be reexamined in dead specimen).— I could not find body of the Polypus (animal dead), but 2 or 3 (& perhaps more) compound tentacula.— [sketch] (b) Each consisted of tapering fillet with about 13 cylindrical ordinary papillæ on each side, those nearer to extremity thicker & longer.— Perhaps these fillets are placed in pairs (2? 4? 6? or 8? in number) around mouth.— They arise from a collar formed of parallel minute tuberculated (a) red stony spiculæ, precisely such as described

[325v]

(a) These channels are broarder than the ridges: in the main branches are very numerous, in the extremities few, such as 4 or 5.— In the dry back, by the shrinking of these channels the concave surface instead of being smooth is furrowed by the ridges.—

(b) These fillets would appear to be contained in a thin case.—

(a) The Channels are distinct by air bubbles being made to travel up them.— In the circumference of any part of branch they are more numerous than the cells of the Polypi.—

326

Galapagos Isd

1835

Muricea in the ridges only separate.— Perhaps by some process they ultimately do serve for this purpose.— I believe the Polypi of all those cells which overlie any one channel must be intimately connected. The existence of Polypi is imaginary I have seen no more than their tentacula.—

Gorgonia (1306) (a) 3264 dry specimen Growing just below low water mark: color of back fine "purplish R".— orifice of cell lined yellow.— Structure irregularly interwoven &c &c &c: Cells very numerous, placed in main branches in irregular rows.— Bark thick, consists of numerous very small red stony elongated (rugose with points which are sometimes placed in concentric lines) grains, connected firmly by a ligamentous matter.— Very closely resemble in this respect Muricæa.— In lower part of Main branches the substance is traversed by parallel longitudinal small vessels — as in Muricæa but not so clear. the vessels on rather clear spaces lie close to under surface.— In the broard intermediate spaces of solid substance the cells lie: Cells on rounded cavity, base only partially separated (by membranes with the rugose red grains)

[326v]

(a) The expansions do not only grow in one plane but in various directions.—

327

Galapagos Isd —

1835 October 1st

Gorgonia from the Horny axis.— The vessel therefore separates rows of cells:— In extreme branches, this structure is not visible: a mere horny fibre from the axis round which the cells appear irregularly placed.— At very base of whole tree, the cells disappear, the mouth becomes covered with a membrane in which (a) the red stony grains appear by degrees.— The outer surface of horny axis appears under microscope to consist of flat brown fibres, slightly interwoven like the South Sea Islanders Cloth. The Polypiferous tube is coloured yellow, can securely be retracted within the orifice of cell.— This orifice, when tube is withdrawn, contracts into a longitudinal ellipse.— Tube short cylindrical, slightly expanded at summit.— Summit saucer shaped, octagonal: the projecting & rounded points lined on each side by by short minute Papillæ (8 or 10 in number).— Externally the collar is strengthened by few white stony striæ, which diverge from base of each point.— In centre large mouth, I believe in centre of tube the vessel is double: There is a strong resemblance

[327v]

(a) It would appear that the Back is the Living part.— is irritable & reproductive, irritable because orifice closes.— There is little or no transmission of feeling from one to the other.— I have omitted to state that within the saucer-shaped extremity of tube I saw a rapid revolving motion of Particles.—

V Alcyonium P. 252 to see resemblance in tube & ova.—

328

Galapagos Isd

1835

Gorgonia with Polypiferous tube in Alcyonium.— The Body in cell I could not examine: it is very delicate & simple: in many cells at base there were one or two oval eggs attached to side of cell.— [sketch in margin] in centre kydney shaped opake mass, point of attachment facing the concave side of this.— color pale.— Differs from Alcyonium6 in tube being detached from external case.— But I suspect the two bear to each other somewhat same relation which Actinia does to Caryophillia.—

Tortoise Copy This animal is, I believe, found in all the Islands of the Archipelago; certainly in the greater number.— They swarm in the greatest numbers in The Tortoises frequent in preference the high & damp parts, but they occur likewise in the low & arid districts.— It is said that slight variations in the form of the shell are constant according to the Island which they inhabit — also the average largest size appears equally to vary according to the locality.— Mr Lawson states he can on seeing a Tortoise pronounce with certainty [pencil insert] from which island it has been brought.— The Tortoises grow to a very large size: there are some which require 8 or 10 men to lift them:

329

Galapagos Isd

1835 Oct.

Tortoise The old Males are the largest.— the females rarely grow to so great a size.— The male can readily be told from the females by the greater length of its tail.— (a) The Tortoises which live on those Islands where there is no water, or in dry parts of others, live chiefly on the succulent Cactus: I have seen those which live in the higher parts, eating largely of a pale green filamentous Lichen, which hangs like presses from the boughs of the trees, also various leaves & especially the berrys berries of a tree (called Guyavitas) which are acid & Austere.— (a) The Tortoise is very fond of Water, & drinks large quantities & wallows in the mud.— Even those which frequent districts far removed from the water travel occassionally to it; they stay two or three days near the Springs & then return.— My informants differed widely in the frequency of these visits.— It seems however certain that they travel far faster than at first would be imagined.—

[329v]

(a) The dung of the Tortoise is very large & resembles that of the S. American Ostrich.

330

Galapagos Isd

1835

Tortoise They ground their opinion of on seeing how far a some marked animal has travelled in a given time. They consider they would pass over 8 miles of ground in two or three days.— One large one, I found by pacing, walked at the rate of 60 yards in 10 minutes, or 360 in the hour.— at this pace, the animal would go four miles in the day & have a short time to rest.— When thus proceeding to the Springs, they travel by broard & well-beaten tracks, which branch off to all points of the Isld.— I should have prefaced that in these Isds there are only a few watering places & these only in the highest & central parts.— When first I landed at Chatham Isd; the object of these tracks was to me inexplicable.— The effect in seeing such numbers of these huge animals, meeting each other in the high-ways, was some the one set thirsty & the other having drunk their fill, was very curious. When the Tortoises arrive at the water, quite heedless of spectators they greedily begin to

331

Galapagos Isd

1835

Tortoise drink: for this purpose they bury their heads to above their eyes in the mud & water above their eyes & swallow about 10 mouthfulls in the minute.—

The inhabitants when very thirsty sometimes have killed these animals in order to drink the water in the Bladder, which is very capacious. I tasted some, which was only slightly bitter.— The water in the Pericardium is described as being more limpid & pure.—

The female Tortoise generally places her eggs in groups of four or five in number & covers them up with earth. Where the ground is rocky she places drops them indiscriminately.— Mr Bynoe found 7 eggs laid along in a kind of crack.— The egg is (a) quite sphærical.(a) — The young Tortoise, during its earliest life, frequently falls a prey to the Caracara, which is so common in these islands. The old ones occassionally meet their death by falling over precipices: but the inhabitants have never found one dead from Natural causes. The Males copulate with the female in the manner of a frog.— they remain joined for some hours.— During this time the Male utters a hoarse roar or

[331v]

(a) The circumference is 7 & 3/8th inches. the eggs are white & hard.— White & hard, the circumference of one was 7 & 3/8 of inch that the animals are copulating.—

332

Galapagos Isd

1835

Tortoise bellowing, which can be heard at more than 100 yards distance.— When this is heard in the woods, they know certainly that the animals are copulating.— The male at no other time, & the female never, utters uses its voice.— There are now, in the beginning of October, eggs in the ground & in the belly.— The people believe they are perfectly deaf; certainly when passing one a tortoise, no notice is taken till the animal it actually sees you:— then drawing in its head & legs & uttering a deep hiss, he falls with a heavy sound on the ground, as if struck dead.—

The people employ the meat largely, eating it both fresh & salt, & it is very good.— The meat abounds with yellow fat, which is fryed down & gives a beautifully clear & good oil4.— When an animal is caught, a slit is made in the skin near the tail to see if the fat on the dorsal plate is thick; if it is not the animal is liberated & recovers from the wound.— if it is thick it is killed by cutting open the breast plate on each side with an axe & removing slicing from the living animal the serviceable parts of the Meat & liver &c &c.

[332v]

(a) In order to secure the Tortoises, it is not sufficient to turn them like a Turtle, for they will frequently resume gain their proper position.—

333

Galapagos Isd

1835

Amblyrhynchus (1305) The Lizard which bears this name is said in the Blonde's Voyage to have been described from a specimen brought from the shores of the Pacifick.— This animal is excessively abundant on all the Islands in the whole group.— It never proceeds many yards inland from the rocky sea beach: There, on the large fragments of black Lava, groups may be seen basking with outstreched legs.— They are hideous looking animals; stupid & sluggish in their motions. Their color is black, their general size rather more than 2 ft long. On Albermale Isd they appear to grow very much larger than in any other place, one weighed 20 £b.— I saw very few small ones: so that I suppose their breeding season is past now coming on: I could not hear of any particulars respecting their manner of breeding.— These animals have occassionally been seen some hundred yards at sea, swimming.— The structure of their bodies points out aquatic habits. Yet it is remarkable, that when shuffling over

334

Galapagos Isd

1835

Amblyrhynchus the tidal rocks it is scarcely possible to drive them into the water. From this reason, it is easy to catch them by the tail, after driving them on a point.— They have no idea of biting, & only sometimes when frightened squirt a drop of fluid from each nostril3.— Having seized a large one by the tail, I threw him it several times into a good distance into a deep pool left by the retiring tide.— Invariably the Lizard it returned to the in the same direction from which it was thrown to the spot where I stood. Its motion was rapid, swimming at the bottom of the water & occassionally helping itself by its feet on the stones.— As soon as it was near the margin, it either tried to conceal itself in the sea-weed or entered some hole or crack. As soon as it thought the danger was over it crawled out on the dry stones, & again would sooner be caught than voluntarily enter the water.— What can be the reason of this? are its habitual enemies

335

Galapagos Isd

1835

Amblyrhynchus sharks or other marine animals? The manner of swimming is singular, consisting entirely solely in a wriggling motion of tail & body, the legs being motionless, collapsed & stretched out behind.—

I opened the stomach (or rather duodenum) of several, it was largely distended by quantities of minced pieces of sea-weed, of that kind which grows in thin foliaceous expansions of a bright green & dull red color.— There was not a trace of any animal matter: Mr Bynoe, however, found a piece of a Crab in them: this might have entered accidentally, in a like manner as I have seen a Caterpillar in the stomach of the Tortoise.— I conceive the largeness of the intestine is in perfect agreement with its herbivirous appetite.— Capt Colnett4 states they go out to sea in shoals to fish: I cannot believe this is the object, nor is it very clear what their (B) object can be.— Does such sea-weed grow more abundantly a little way from the coast? (B)

(a) They appear to be able to survive a long time without (a)

[335v]

(a) breathing.— One was sunk with a weight for nearly an hour, & was then very lively active in its motions.— Their limbs are well adapted for crawling amongst the rough & fissured rocks of Lava, & we have mentioned that with their tail & body they can swim well.—

Neither species were known by the inhabitants of Tahiti

(B) Does not the Manatee of the West Indian ocean feed on such seaweed?

336

Galapagos Isd

1835

Amblyrhynchus terrestrial (1315) This animal clearly belongs to the same genus as the last.— it being a terrestrial, whilst the other is an aquatic species. They are found only in the central division of the Islands, viz. Barrington, Indefatigable, Albermale & James Isd — to the North in Charles, Hood or Chatham, & to the South in Tower, Bindloes & Abingdon, I neither heard of, or saw one.— They frequent both in the above Islands both the upper, central & damp parts as well as the lower dry arid sterile districts: in the latter kind of soil their numbers are more especially abundant.— I cannot give a better idea of this than by stating we had difficulty in finding a piece of ground free from their burrows large enough to pitch our tents.— They are ugly animals, & from their low facial angle have a singularly stupid appearance.— Capt. FitzRoy specimens will give a good idea of their size.— Their colors are, whole belly, front legs, head "Saffron Y & Dutch orange" — upper side of head nearly white.— Whole back behind the front legs, upper side of hind legs & whole tail "Hyacinth R". This in parts is duller, in others brighter passing

337

Galapagos Isd

1835

AmblyRhyncus terrestrial into "Tile R".— I have seen a few individuals, especially the younger ones, quite sooty on the whole upper side of their bodies.—

They are torpid slow animals, crawling when not frightened with their belly & tail on the ground.— frequently they doze on the parched ground, with their eyes closed & hind legs stretched outwards.— In none of their motions, is there that celerity & alertness which is so conspicuous in true Lacertas & Iguanas.— Their habits are diurnal: they seldom leave wander to any distance from their burrows: when frightened they rush to them with a most awkward gait: excepting going down hill their motion, from the lateral position of their legs, is not quick.— They are not timorous. When attentively watching an intruder they curl their tails, & raising themselves as if in defiance on their front legs, vertically shake their heads with a quick motion.— I have seen small Muscivorous Lizards perform the same gestures.— This gives them rather a fierce aspect, but in truth they are far the contrary. When however

338

Galapagos Isd

1835

Amblyrhynchus terrestrial being caught & plagued with a stick they will bite it severely.— Two being placed on the ground close together will fight & bite each other till blood is drawn.—

As I have said they all inhabit burrows, these they make sometimes between the fragments of Lava, but more generally in the ground, composed of Volcanic Sandstone.— The burrows do not appear deep & enter at a small angle: hence when walking over the "warrens" the soil perpetually gives way.— When excavating these holes, the opposite sides of the body work alternately; one front leg scratches the earth for a short time & throws it towards the hind. this latter is well placed so as heave the soil beyond the mouth of hole.— the opposite side then takes up the task.— Those individuals & they are the greater number, which inhabit the extremely arid land, can never drink water during nearly the whole year.— These eat much of the succulent Cactus, which is in evident high esteem. When a piece is thrown towards them, each will try to seize & carry it away as dogs do with a bone.—

339

Galapagos Isd

1835

Amblyrhynchus terrestrial They eat however deliberately, without chewing the pieces.— The Cactus is in request amongst all animals, I have seen little birds picking at the opposite end of a piece which a Lizard was eating: & (B) (a) afterwards it would hop on with complete indifference on its back.— In their stomachs I ha vegetable fibres, leaves of different trees, especially the Mimosa were always found. In the high damp country their chief food is the berry called Guayavitas; it is the same which the Tortoises eat, & has an acid astringent taste.— Here also they are said to drink water.— To obtain the leaves they climb short heights up the trees: I have frequently seen them clinging to the branches of the Mimosa.— Thus their habits are as entirely herbivorous as in the black sea-kind.— The meat when cooked is white & esteemed, by those who can bring their stomachs to such a regimen, good food. (B)— I observe the pores on under sides of hind thighs are very large. by pressure a cylindrical organ is protruded to the length of some tenths of an inch.— (a)

[339v]

(a) At this time of year (end of September & beginning of October) the females have numerous large elongated eggs.— These they lay in their burrows & the inhabitants seek for them to eat.—

Is any other genus amongst the Saurians Herbivorous? I cannot help suspecting that this genus, the species of which are so well adapted to their respective localities, is peculiar to this group of Isds.—

The Inhabitants of Tahiti had never seen or heard of

(B) Humboldt remarks that in intertropical S. America all Lizards which inhabit dry regions are esteemed as delicacies for the table.—

340

Galapagos Isd

1835

Ornithology I believe the collections of birds formed by Mr Bynoe, Capt. FitzRoy & myself will show give a nearly perfect series of the birds.— At this time of year (end of Septemb & beginning of Octob), from the state in which the birds appeared to be I should imagine the young ones last years produce had nearly attained perfect plumage.— In no female of the smaller birds the eggs in the Ovarium were much developed.— The Ornithology is manifestly S. American.— Far the preponderant number of individuals belongs to the Finch & Gross-beaks.— There appears to be much difficulty in ascertaining the Species.— My series would tend to show that only the old Cocks possessed a jet black plumage: but Mr Bynoe & Fuller have each a small black female bird.— Certainly the numbers of brown & blackish ones is immensely great to those perfectly black.— 3330 3331 Species as in margin are well characterized.— I only saw them in James Isd & in one place. they were there however numerous, feeding with the various other species. Mr Bynoe has a much blacker specimen.— I should state that all the Species (& doves) feed together in great numbers indiscriminately, their favourite resort being in the dry long grass in the lower & dry parts of Island, where in the soil many

341

Galapagos Isd

1835

Ornithology (a) seeds are lying dormant.— The Icterus like Finch (3320...23) is distinct in its habits: its general resort is hopping & climbing about the Cactus trees, picking with its sharp beak the flowers & fruit.— not infrequently however, it alights on the ground & feeds with the flocks of other species.— Out of the many specimens which I have seen of this bird, the only one which was black (3320) I by good fortune procured.— Mr Bynoe has one other.— I have no doubt respecting its identity: for it was shot with the others on the Cactus: This is an illustration of the comparative rarity of the black kinds.—

The insectivorous birds are comparatively rare: they are equally found in the low dry country & high damp parts.— I was astonished to find amongst the luxuriant damp vegetation an exceeding Scarcity of insects (so much so that the fact is very remarkable) (B) This being the case, it is no wonder that the above order of birds should be scarce.—

3348, 3349 3306, 3307 This bird which is so closely allied to the Thenca of Chili (Callandra of B. Ayres) is singular from existing as varieties or distinct species in the different Isds.—

[341v]

(a) The Gross-beaks are very injurious. they will strike seeds & plants when buried 6 inches beneath the ground

(B) I neither saw or could hear of humming birds in any of the Isds.

342

Galapagos Isd

1835

Ornithology (a) I have four specimens from as many Isds.— These will be found to be 2 or 3 varieties.— Each variety is constant in its own Island.— This is a parallel fact to the one mentioned about the Tortoises. These birds are abundant in all parts: are very tame & inquisitive: habits exactly similar to the Thenca.— runs fast, active, lively: sings tolerably well, is very fond of picking meat near houses, builds a simple open nest.— I believe the note or cry is different from that of Chili.—

(3374) Anthus This bird was shot by Fuller on James Isd: it was only one seen during our whole residence here.— It is described as rising from the ground out of dry grass & settling again on the ground.— Showed very long wings (like a Lark) in its flight & uttered a peculiar cry.— Its structure appears very curious & interesting.— Connects Anthus & Fringilla. The body is preserved in Spirits (1309) for Dissection.

3351 52: 53 This small Water Hen is found in high damp central parts of Charles & James Isd.— It frequents in numbers the damp beds of Carex & other plants, uttering loud & peculiar Crys.— (B) There is no water in these parts, but the land is damp. is called Gallinito del Monte.—

[342v]

(a) The Thenca of Chatham Isd Albermale Isd is the same as that of Chatham Isd.—

(B) Iris bright scarlet; lays from 8-12 eggs.—

343

Galapagos Isd

1835

Ornithology 3356 This swallow was only seen in no numbers at one point of James Isd. frequents bold precipices on the sea coast.—

3297 3298 Caracara, specimens Cock & young female. The old female is much browner on the breast: Mr Bynoe has a specimen. (where eggs in Ovarium were very large).— As in C. Novæ Zælandæ at the Falklands the individuals with plumage like (3298) were in far preponderant numbers. I believe upwards of 30 were counted near our tents without one dark one.— Habits similar to rest of genus.— Tame, bold, sit watching on the trees when a Tortoise is killed.— Noisy, crys Very different, one Very like the C. Chimango.— Can run fast.— are carrion eaters — build in trees.— not elegant & swift on the wing. Are said to kill chickens, doves & the very young Tortoises.— They are very abundant & will eat almost anything.—

S. America Perfect Collect. 3303 (Humming Birds) There are no true Hawks — Owls are abundant. Besides my species (3303) Fuller has a blackish kind. With respect to the Land Birds, their extreme tameness has (a) been described in my private Journal.— Little birds can be almost caught by the hand, they will

[343v]

(a) alight on your person & drink water out of a basin held in your hand.— Must not this arise from the entire absence of all Cats & other similar animals & those hawks which pursue small birds? [added later in pencil] Big Tortoises.—

344

Galapagos Isd

1835

Ornithology: 3299 Amongst the Marine birds we have one Duck6 which frequents the salt Lagoons, as does a Heron7 (3296).— There are two kinds of Bittern (3300:01) on the rocks on the sea-coast.— There is one Gul9 & one Tern both of which are common.— There is Flamingo in the Salinas.— On the shore there are several small waders10. Mr Bynoe & Fuller have some other species: I believe this is the most indifferent part of our collection.— At sea we have the little Mother Carys Chicken.— Procellaria (3190) & other species.— The great Pelican & common gannet as at Callao & other species of latter, beautifully white & black.—

There is also the Frigate Bird.— There is one part of the habits of this bird which has not been sufficiently described; it is the manner in which this bird picks up fish or bits of meat from the surface of the water without wetting even its feet.— I never saw one alight on the water.— Like an arrow the bird descends from a great height with extended head, by the aid of its tail & long wings (a) turns with extraordinary dexterity at the moments of seizing its object with its long beak.—

[344v]

(a) It is a noble bird seen on the wing, either when soaring in flocks at a stupendous height, or when as showing the perfect skill in evolutions when many are darting at the same floating morsel.— If the piece of meat sinks above 6 inches deep it is lost.—