218 



BAHAMA BIRD-LIFE 



prevented lis from stud^^ng the nesting liabits of the Man- 

 o'-War Bird with the ease which attended our observations 

 of the Boobies ; and I have but little to record concerning 

 the biography of this species. 



The Man-o '-War birds awoke at about the same time as 

 the Boobies, and at 5 :30 a. m,, were sailing over their rook- 

 ery. From this time until they retired, considerably before 

 the Boobies, and while it was yet light, a flock of birds was 

 constantly over the sea-grapes. The birds may be said to 

 have perched in the air above their homes. Only one bird is 

 in attendance on the young at the same time. Both sexes as- 



A Corner of the Man-o'-War Bird Colony 

 The blind appears at the left 



sumed this duty, as well as the task of incubation ; but there 

 appeared to be no regularity as to when male or female 

 should be on guard. 



The Man-o '-War birds were less tame than the Boobies 

 and, as a rule, left the nest when one approached to within 

 thirty or forty feet of them. When, however, they were 

 brooding newly hatched chicks, they showed more bravery. 



In most instances the guUir pouch had faded from car- 



