19- Papers from the Marine Biological Laboratory at Tortugas. 



about 4 statute miles to the west of Bird Key. Immediately outside of these 

 islands is to be found the water of the Gulf of Mexico. The situation of 

 the island shows that it is adequately protected from all but the severest 

 southwest storms. The Tortugas as a whole are rarely subject to heavy 

 storms during the nesting period of the birds. During the past season 



55 



82 so 



45 



h< 



< 



O^ 



.<^^' 



,gn^ 



Sand Keu 



n. ^' K 



Loqqerhead >") Jefferson i 



Bird Keij_...j)* 



%East Key 

 iddie Key 



6Z40' 



35 



-24 40 



Rebecca 5hoal Light 



.35 



24 30 



25 



24 20 



Fig. I. Showing the relation of Bird Key to the other islands in the group. (The dotted 

 lines show a launch trip made to determine the feeding habits of the birds.) 



(1907) only one severe storm visited the island, and this was not very 



destructive to the life of the birds. 



Owing to its jii.xta-tropical location, its slight elevation, and the condi- 

 tion of its surface (largely coral sand), the actual surface-temperature of 

 this island is very high, ranging at times during the hottest days from 124 

 to 143 F. 



With the exception of the bay-cedar bushes, which are very abundant upon 

 the central and western parts of this island, little vegetation exists. On a 

 certain limited portion of its surface (southeastern) a dense growth of cactus 

 is to be found. Both cactus and bay-cedars are utilized by the noddies for 

 nesting-places. 



No accurate data exist concerning the number of years these two species 

 have migrated to this island for the purpose of rearing their young. The 

 oldest inhabitants of the neighborhood say that as long as they can remember 



