384 Mr. 0. Salvin on the Sea-birds of British Honduras. 



These latter almost exclusively monopolize the high mangroves 

 on the windward side of the island, while the larger species keeps 

 to the cocoa-nuts. Both were as tame as could be, and cared little 

 for my climbing the trees to investigate their domestic arrange- 

 ments. The eggs of the " Piccary Noddies " were on the point 

 of hatching, whilst those of the Common Noddy were already 

 hatched. Again reverting to the numbers, in one tree there 

 were over seventy nests. The egg of the Piccary Noddy is 

 nearly the counterpart of that of the common species, only smaller, 

 and perhaps more highly marked ; but I saw a larger series of 

 the former. It was hot work, indeed, climbing the trees at 

 midday, and the consumption of yoimg cocoa-nuts was con- 

 siderable ; they form an excellent substitute for brackish water, 

 and are certainly more wholesome. So ended our day at South- 

 west-of-all Cay ; and so much work had accumulated on our 

 hands that we determined to spend the next in working up 

 arrears, as what with a Pelican and Noddies to skin, and eggs 

 to blow, we had enough to do. 



Glover's Reef is a favourite haunt for turtle, and, during the 

 season, nets are constantly set to catch them. Immediately on 

 reaching the Cay, Sam had set ten nets, and we now went in the 

 dorey to see the result. The net is usually about forty or fifty 

 yards long, sometimes more, and about four yards deep. It is 

 made with a very open mesh, often more than a foot square. At 

 one end a log is fastened and anchored with a large stone, along 

 the top runs a row of floats, and at the other end a log cut in the 

 form of a turtle. This acts as a decoy. The turtle, on striking 

 the net, rolls itself up in the meshes, and becomes effectually 

 entangled ; the two buoys are drawn together, and the fisherman 

 knows from a distance whether he has been successful or not. 

 We had a lucky morning's sport, and secured two turtles. It 

 requires some dexterity to haul such a heavy brute on board so 

 small a craft; but Sam managed matters well, being ready 

 prepared with a " turtle-peg " to spear the animal, should the 

 net be insecurely wound round it. This peg or spear is so 

 arranged that the barb only can pierce the shell. Returning, we 

 visited Long Cay, a resort of Pelicans. Here I found a few pairs 

 of the Lesser Tern [Sterna antdlaruni) just preparing to lay. 



