198 



BAHAMA BIRD-LIFE 



able holes or i)oekets of the water-worn Hmestone. In con- 

 formance to the law that southern birds lay a smaller num- 

 ber of eggs than northern members of the same family, the 

 Noddy. Sooty, and Bridled Terns each lay but a single egg, 

 while the Common, Forster's Eoseate, Arctic, and Least 

 Terns lay three. 



The Bridled and Sooty Terns resemble each other so 

 closely (it is difficult to distinguish them in life) that a com- 

 parative study of their habits would be of especial interest. 





Viiunu Audiilion's Shearwater 



We, however, were too anxious to continue our search for 

 Flamingos to devote much time to Terns, and our two days 

 in the Washerwoman Keys gave us opportunity for only the 

 most casual inspection of their bird-life. 



Large numbers of Audubon's Shearwaters were nesting 

 on this and the neighboring keys, but without the assistance 

 of Mr. Bonhote's Irish setter we should have been unaware 

 of their presence, by day, at least. Toby quickly learned to 

 distinguish the peculiar Shearwater odor, and when the site 

 permitted, dislodgement of the rocks at which he pointed 

 was sure to be followed by the discovery of a Shearwater, 

 either male or female, squatting on its egg or by its downy 



