and unaided migrate from other lands should be received with much
caution—the nearest mainland being 1200 miles distant, and,
situated right in the heart of the south-east trade winds, is nearly
always to leeward of St. Helena; the Cape of Good Hope is nearly
2000 miles, and the South American Continent just as far away;
and the Island being directly in the track of homeward-bound, and
not very far from that of outward-bound ships, birds may escape
from them and find a resting-place thereon. The following extract
from the local records of a period when there was much less traffic
by sea, would, however, tend to show that, notwithstanding its
isolation, birds have migrated to the Island:—
“ 17-th October, 1727. There being several birds of a different
species from those that frequent the Island lately come hither, the
bodies of which are as large as a pheasant, their leggs long and
hlack, hut their claws opened and not webed like sea-fowle, with
long bills, resembling those of a Snipe, but. thicker and longer
in proportion to the bulk of their bodies, which probably may breed
here if not destroyed or disturbed-^-
“ Ordered, that all persons be publickly forbid by advertizement
either to kill or disturb any of the said birds or destroy any of their
e g g s .” •
There being no bird answering to this description now in the
Island, it may be presumed .that in spite of this precaution these
visitors did not remain at St. Helena. I t is difficult also to account
fully for the almost total disappearance of some species, which once
were abundant, such as the Frigate-bird, and possibly the entire
disappearance of the Albatross, which does not now come so far
north as St. Helena; though in Seale’s “ Geognosy of the Island of
St. Helena” it is stated that innumerable skeletons of it, associated
with those of the Tropic-bird, lie buried from ten to ninety feet
deep in earthy beds near Hold-fast Tom and Sugar Loaf. I have
not found any of these remains, though, in justice to Mr. Seale, I
must add that I have not been able to spend much time in searching
for them.
Many attempts have been, made from time to time to introduce
new birds. American mocking, as well as English song birds, have
been imported,* but without success, until three years ago when I
* In 1852, thrushes, blackbirds, larks, and starlings were let loose j and in 1865-67, through
the kind assistance of Mr. E. L. Layard, I turned loose some Cape pheasants, Francolinus
took out to the Island a carefully selected lot of English birds, comprising
twenty-six London sparrows,-five green linnets, seven blackbirds,
and six thrushes. These were turned loose at Plantation House,
but the sparrows immediately migrated to the houses and more inhabited
parts near the town, where they soon increased in number.
The other birds also were fairly established before I left the Island
in 1871, and the song of the thrush was not uncommon in the
country woods at early morn. Sparrows were introduced with the
hope that they might assist in destroying the white ants, and that
they may render some assistance in this matter seems very probable.
I t is with thanks that I have to acknowledge the assistance of
Mr. E. L. Layard, and Mr. R.B. Sharpe, in identifying the following
species:—
O b DEB P a SSEB.ES.
Fam. Fringillidee.
Estrelda, Sw.
E . a s t r i l d , Linn.—Averdevat. Hah. South Africa. One of the
most abundant field-birds in the Island, which may be seen in flights
of a hundred or more at a time, especially in the neighbourhood of
hay-fields as the grass-seed is r ip e n in g i t is by no means a timid
bird, but behaves much like the common English sparrow in
frequenting the doors of country houses to pick up crumbs and the
like. I t builds in high trees, generally preferring the Scotch fir
and Botany-Bay willow (Acacia longifolia), and consequently suffers
much by high winds blowing the nests down; the nest is spherical
in form, about seven inches in diameter, with an almost closed
tubular entrance on one side, and is generally built of grass and
feathers, lined with cotton and wool.
Averdevats are caught in large numbers, and 'a small trade
carried on with them between the natives and ships calling at the
Island; they are sold at two or three shillings a dozen, according to
the demand.
Padda, Reich.
P. o r y z iv o r a , Linn.—Java Sparrow. Hah. Java. A tolerably
abundant bird, inhabiting the low rocky lands on the northern side
clamator, and partridges, F. afer. In 1869 Mr. Andrew Anderson introduced Indian grey
quail, and a year or two before tbat, Mr. George Moss took a number of larks to the
Island and turned them out at The Briars.