Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 4 (1900).djvu/79

Rh battle-ships afloat—and consequently it is very much easier to miss a bird which alights on board so large a vessel than it is to do so in a smaller craft like the 'Anselm.'

Upupa epops.—On March 15th, 1899, when about one hundred miles west of Cape Finisterre, at five o'clock in the evening, a Hoopoe came on board of us, but shortly dropped astern and disappeared. This happened in very fine weather.

Falco tinnunculus.—On March 23rd, 1899, when about sixty miles from the north-west coast of Spain, in dull cloudy weather, a Kestrel flew on board, and remained the rest of the day. At night it managed to get into one of the canvas steaming covers round the fore-topmast, where a boy made an ineffectual attempt to catch it.

Daulias luscinia.—On April 29th, being then about one hundred and sixty miles W.S.W. of the southern end of Sardinia, two Turtle-Doves, a Nightingale, and another small bird which I could not get a good view of, came on board the ship; but all shortly left us for some other member of the squadron.

Sturnus vulgaris.—On Oct. 26th, 1899, whilst proceeding towards Ushant from Scilly, and about one-third nearer the former, at 5 p.m. in foggy weather, a Starling alighted on board of us for a few minutes, and then departed in an eastwardly direction. On Oct. 27th, when about midway across the Bay of Biscay, a Swallow came and perched on our quarter-deck awning ridge rope at 9 a.m.

The above are my notes, lamentably scanty, but still a contribution to what is, I think, an interesting subject. I offer them without comment.