HOMING OF SEA-SWALLOWS 3 



long a time was required to come from Key West 

 to Bird Key, which is only about 65 miles. It 

 goes without saying that the time required has 

 nothing to do with the rate of flight, for three 

 Sooties returned from Key West in 3 hours 45 

 minutes, and probably spent part of that time on 

 the feeding ground before reporting themselves 

 at the nests. The success of the homing depends 

 partly on the vigor of the birds and partly on 

 the smiles of fortune, as expressed, for instance, 

 in a spell of fine weather and the absence of 

 hawks. 



It is instructive to give particulars in regard to 

 some of the experiments. Two Noddies and two 

 Sooties were taken in the stateroom of a steamer to 

 Havana, and liberated in the harbor there early 

 in the morning of nth July. They returned to 

 Bird Key (108 miles off) next day, having prob- 

 ably spent most of the time recuperating around the 

 shores of Cuba. Of five birds liberated off Cape 

 Hatteras at least three returned in a few days, 

 having accomplished a journey of 850 miles as 

 the crow flies, and of much more if the alongshore 

 route was followed. Four Noddies and four Sooties 

 were taken in a hooded cage on a Galveston steamer 

 to about 461 statute miles from Bird Key and 

 liberated where no shore line was visible. " On 

 release all birds with one exception started east. 

 That one headed west and continued for about 

 200 yards, then turned suddenly and started east." 

 They had a strong head wind against them through- 



