We suspect the regular appearance of Solans so far to the southward will turn out to be closely associated with the migrations of fish, possibly pilchards; and that, gorged with these fish, they were unable to rise off the water, this difficulty not arising from any state of moult in the bird's plumage.—J. A. H. B.
Union Steamship 'Athenian.'—First Voyage, 1884.
Thanks also to Mr. Spearman Swinburne, of Union Steamship 'Athenian,' I have several good schedules returned from two voyages—one in spring, between April 5th and 29th; and the second between Aug. 24th and Oct. 4th.
April 5th.—One Robin, one Yellowhammer, a flock of Jackdaws, three Lapwings, and one Crested Lark (A. cristata), between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m.; strong S.S.E.; v. c. r. The Robin alighted, so did the Yellowhammer. The Jackdaws were flying to eastward. The Lapwings followed the ship, and the Crested Lark alighted on board. The Robin and Yellowhammer were seen in lat. 53° N., long. 9° E.; the others in lat. 54° N., long. 10° E.
April 12th.—Seven Red-throated Divers, flying E.; one lot of three, the rest singly, all with white throats; 6 to 7 a.m.; light N.W., clear; off Schelling light-vessel.
April 20th.—One Wheatear, 2 p.m. till dark; light N.E., v. c.; alighted on board. Lat. 46° N., long. 8° W.
April 22nd.—Bulwer's Petrels, throughout the morning; W., strong, v. c.; about nine or ten in all flying singly, generally against the wind. Lat. 34° N., long. 16° W. Also one "white-breasted" Petrel, at 7 a.m., same lat. and long., fluttering on surface. One Black Tern (in full black plumage); and on April 29th, Sooty Terns and Common Terns; a large flock at 9 a.m., wind light S., including with these species a dark species of Gull.[4] Lat. 1° S., long. 13° W.
[4] Or Falcon (?).—J. A. H. B.
Remarks.—Oct. 19th, off Cape Point (Cape of Good Hope). Passed through numbers of Great Shearwaters, and continued seeing them up to Algoa Bay. This is the first time I have seen them on this coast, and they are not included among the birds of S. Africa. On our return, on November 2nd, we passed smaller numbers of them, chiefly flying to the S.W. Nov. 16th, off Bejouga Islands, observed a Skua in uniform brown plumage chasing two grey and white birds, apparently some kind of pigeon. While one bird was being attacked, the other would rise in the air and attack the Skua in turn, and this continued till I lost sight of them. The same day, at 1 p.m., saw what looked like land; on approach turned out to be enormous flocks of sea-birds feeding and moving to the N.E. Those we saw afterwards were nearly all Greater Shearwaters.
Migratory Birds seen at Sea.—Dec. 18th, 1884, to Feb. 17th, 1885.