is a true native of the Island. I t 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). I t 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
covered. I t is rarely, hut occasionally, seen inland, sometimes
in pairs, sometimes in flocks of five or six. I t lays, in the
summer months of December and January, two eggs, in colour
grey with black markings. I t is stated, upon the pretty good
authority of several persons long resident in the Island, that
this bird makes no nest, hut lays its eggs in dry cow-dung on the
exposed open ground; it slightly covers them over, hut 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
he 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. O rder A nskres.
Fam. Anatidm.
Anser, Briss-
A . f e r u s , Linn.—Domestic Goose. Hab. Europe. Beared in the
Island. Annas, Linn.
A . b o s c h a s , Linn.—Domestic Duck. Hal. Europe. Beared abundantly
in the Island.
Cairina, Elem.
C. moschatas, Linn.—Muscovy Duck. Hab. South America.
A few have been imported into the Island.
Procellaria, Linn.
* p . g la c ia lo id e s , A. Smith.—Bight-whale-bird. Two were
* Mr. Hartine considers that this must he a mistake, and that the bird only covers its eggs
to hide them in its absence, as is the case with Galhnula chloropus, Podiceps minor, and
other species.
caught with an ordinary fishing-hook and line, in October, 1868, off
Speery Island; but it is rare.
Fam. Pelecanidie.
Thalassidroma ?, Sw.
* T . m e l a n o g a s t e r ?—Mother Carey’s Chicken. A small species
of petrel frequenting the sea around the Island, but not very abundant;
lays in November.
Sula?, Briss.
*S. sp. P—Booby. This bird is seldom found on the Island,
but frequents the neighbourhood. I t is often seen from shipboard
near the land, but I have not had an opportunity of examining
a specimen.
Tachypetes, Y.
*T . a q u i lu s , Linn.—Man-of-war-bird. Although there is a
part of the south-west coast designated “ Man-of-war Boost,” deriving
its name from this bird, and there is still living evidence of
its having once frequented even the landing-steps at Jamestown,
it is seldom now to be met with, nor is it easy to assign a reason
for its disappearance from the Island.
Phaeton, Linn.
* P . s e th e r e u s , 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
the ground. I t 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
these beautiful and peaceful creatures suffer so much persecution as
they do for the sake of the plumes' they afford for ladies’ hats.
Tropic-bird-shooting at St. Helena is accomplished by taking up a
position on the ledges above their holes and nests, while a boy iS