172 Mr. E. C. Taylor on the Birds of the West Indies. 



chloropus of Europe, is very abundant in Porto Rico, in suitable 

 localities. 



41. PODILYMBUS DOMINICUS. 



I once came upon several of these birds swimming about in a 

 broad deep ditch in Porto Rico, and succeeded in shooting one. 

 This bird differs from the true Grebes {Podiceps) in having the 

 feet semipalmated as well as lobated, and also in the form of 

 the bill, which is much deeper than in that genus. 



42. Dendrocygna autumnalis. 

 Abundant in Porto Rico, where it breeds. 



43. Larus atricillus. American Black-headed Gull. 

 This is the only species of Gull that I saw in the West 



Indies, and I did not see this south of St. Thomas. There, 

 however, and at Porto Rico it was very numerous, especially in 

 the harbours of St. Thomas and St. Juan de Porto Rico. 



44. Sterna fuliginosa. Sooty Tern. 



In the market at St. Thomas I saw a large basketful of the 

 eggs of this species, which had been taken at Tortola ; so I 

 bought a dozen of them for half-a-dollar. 



45. Phaethon ^thereus. Red-billed Tropic-Bird. 

 Tropic-Birds breed in great numbers in Martinique, in the 



high cliffs, composed of volcanic ash, which extend from the 

 town of St. Pierre, along the coast towards Fort de France. I 

 was there at the end of March, and I used to watch them flying 

 in and out of their circular holes in the vertical face of the 

 cliff. I tried to procure specimens both of the birds and their 

 eggs, but without success. I could see their 7'ed bills quite 

 plainly; so no doubt the species was Phaethon cethereus. I also 

 frequently saw Tropic-Birds flying about the harbour of St. Juan 

 de Porto Rico. 



46. Fregata aquila. Frigate Pelican. 



I used often to see this graceful bird, soaring high in the air, 

 among the Windward Islands. 1 was never fortunate enough to 

 see it attack other birds to rob them of their prey ; but I have 

 seen it plunge into the sea, as if fishing on its own account. The 



