CAHOWS AND LONGTAILS 



only less white because of the fluffiness of its down. 

 Here we have an epitome of tropicbird develop- 

 ment. 



The parent explodes again and the downy infant 

 echoes her in a weak and minor key. But there is a 

 marked individuality and I have lifted some birds 

 off their nest, examined and replaced them without 

 eliciting a sound of remonstrance. 



For two successive years on Nonsuch (1929 and 

 1930) there were fifty-seven occupied nests within 

 climbing reach and probably thirty more on the 

 northern cliffs beyond human approach. I banded 

 parents with gi^een and nestlings with red leg-bands 

 and found that the young breed the second year, 

 and in a few cases at least, the same birds return to 

 the same nesting holes. 



The slight variation in breeding season is shown 

 by comparison of the two years : 



Newly I i ft 



Eggs Hatched Grown Grown Grown Grown Invisible Empty 

 1929 



July 17th 11 5 8 10 4 5 10 5 



1930 



July 29th 8 5 6 8 8 10 10 



Those recorded as invisible were in long, winding 

 tunnels where the birds could be heard but not 

 seen. 



Some of the nests were in exquisite positions, 

 such as one little cave, with three entrances, divided 

 from each other by two marble columns or com- 

 pleted stalactites, with overhanging flowering vines 

 partly shielding the aperture. When the parent 



153 



