BOOBY AND MAN-O'-WAR BIRD 205 



We were now within tliii'ty miles of (Jay Verde, but the 

 wind having gone to tiie eastward, was dead ahead, and in 

 Bahamese, there was a ' ' rage on ' ' outside, forcing us to 

 await calmer weather. In the meantime we did some collect- 

 ing and photographing on Little Ragged Island which, 

 though iminhabited by man, has a population of cows, goats, 

 and chickens, the property of the only white family on 

 Greater Eagged Island, and very curious it was to hear a 

 rooster crow from the depths of a primeval jungle. Birds 

 were not uncommon on Little Ragged Island; a Snowy 

 Egret, six Tree Ducks {Dandrocygna) and an apparently 

 undescribed form of the Clapper Rail, of which only one 

 specimen was secured, being the most interesting species re- 

 corded. 



Conditions appearing favorable, we started for Cay 

 Verde earl}' April 7, but once deprived of the shelter of 

 Ragged Island, the east wind was found to be stronger 

 than we anticipated. Going to windward was not the "Phy- 

 salia 's ' ' strong point, and we were soon forced, therefore, to 

 put about and return to our anchorage. April 8, a second 

 trial was made and the sea being now somewhat lower, with 

 the aid of sails and engine, the Cay was sighted at 3 p. m. 

 still about ten miles to windward. The rate at which we 

 were traveling made it doubtful if we could beat that far be- 

 fore nightfall but, the wind dropping, we lowered our sails 

 and under power alone headed directly for the Cay. 



After a nine days trip, not devoid of incident, we ap- 

 proached our goal with no small concern. My information 

 in regard to its bird-life, w^hile the best which could be ob- 

 tained, was nevertheless about sixteen years old, and was 

 somewhat indefinite as to the date of the birds' presence. 

 When we believed we were near enough to distinguish 

 birds in the air our glasses did not reveal a bird over the 

 Cay nor were any seen flying toward it. But we were furth- 

 er away than we supposed and when, after a period of 

 pretty keen suspense and eager looking, one black dot after 



