FAX'NA OF ST. CROIX ISLAND 10? 



Other birds seen on the island were surprisingly few 

 in species: they were Gulls, Oyster-catcher, White- 

 breasted cormorant, Black cormorant, Common wagtail, 

 and a single Rock-pigeon. The Southern black-backed 

 gull loved to perch liigh up on the tops of rocks, always, 

 we thought with an eye on the nests of penguins or 

 cormorants: its behaviour seemed distinctly suspicious 

 as an ei^^ poacher. Mr. Messina says he has seen one 

 prod its beak into a penguin egg and fly away therewith! 



Edward Walker was lucky enough to find a large 

 breeding colony of White-breasted Cormorants. It was 

 situated on the top of precipitous rocks on the east side 

 of the island. Altogether, there were about 30 nests, 

 side by side, each a formidable pile of sticks — dried up 

 Mescnihyjianthciniuh stalks — about a foot high and nearly 

 2 feet in diameter: straw and even bits of rope were 

 found in the lining of the nest. There were not more 

 than 3 eggs in any nest, and many nests were vacant. The 

 birds themselves were very shy, and T did not see them 

 sitting. The breeding season apparently had only just 

 commenced, all the eggs being fresh. 



Apart from birds, we saw only three species of verte- 

 brate animals on St. Croix. The commonest is the Girdle 

 tailed lizard, Zonurus cordylus. It exists in great 

 numbers, being far more abundant on the island than 

 in any locality known to me. Although common enough 

 near GrahamstoAvn, its population tliere is kept within 

 reasonable limits tlirough the depredations of birds of 

 prey— especially Kestrels, according to Mr. j'rank 

 Bowker; but at St. Croix, its natural increase would 

 seem to proceed unchecked. We noticed these lizards 

 running with impunity amongst the penguins, the latter 

 ignoring them completely. Yet, although they would 

 seem to have no foes, they are nevertheless just as timid 

 and elusive as their much harrassed relatives at 

 Orahamstown. The St. Croix variety is not quite the 

 same as that found near Grahamstown : it is smaller. 



