210 



BAHAMA BIRD-LIFE 



bird rookeries which were most accessible, have long ago 

 been devastated for food. The colony containing thousands 

 of Man-o '-AVar Birds, which Dr. Bryant (/. c.) found on 

 Ragged Island, no longer exists ; its extinction doubtless be- 

 ing due to the habit, of which we were told, of collecting 

 Man-o'-War Birds, salting them and shipping them as food 

 to the other islands. 



As the most abundant and easily observed of the two 

 birds nesting on the Cay, the Booby first commanded our 

 attention. 



Tile JJooby Colony 



Although the Booby is found throughout the West In- 

 dies, northward at least to the mouth of the St. John's 

 River, Florida, where on March 11, 1907, I saw twelve indi- 

 viduals, Bryant appears to be the only naturalist who has 

 recorded an authentic description of its nesting in this 

 region. 



A partial census of eggs and young, led to the conclusion 

 that there were about 1500 pairs of Boobies nesting on Cay 

 Verde. They were distributed in several groups where the 

 comparatively level surface and sandy soil furnished favor- 

 able nesting conditions. In most instances the young were 

 covered with down, with the brown second plumage more or 



