Mr. 0. Salvin on the Sea-birds of British Honduras. 385 



I also added another specimen of Thalasseus regius to the 

 collection. 



One more day at Middle Cay, and we were again under weigh, 

 standing westward for Southern Water Cay and the main reef. 

 A search on two small Cays (Ellen and Curlew Cays) produced a 

 single specimen oi Haliplana fuUginosa and a Turnstone {Strep- 

 silas interpres). I also gathered a few more eggs of "Noddy" 

 and " Rocky Bird." Leaving Water Cay, where we had anchored 

 for the night, the schooner was steered along the inside of the 

 reef, towards Cay Glory channel, stopping at " Sawpit Cay " and 

 "Tobacco Cay." On the latter was an old Osprey's nest in a 

 dead tree, which looked as if it had been occupied for years, a 

 little being added each year, till the pile of sticks was several feet 

 high. AlsLVge ^ock oiHi/drochelidon fissipes was seen ahead; but 

 before the schooner could reach them they had worked too far 

 to windward, so I jumped into the dorey, paddled off in pursuit, 

 and succeeded in securing several specimens in all stages of 

 plumage. 



My original intention had been now to return to Belize ; but I 

 had not seen enough. There were the " Curlews" {Eudocimus 

 albus), Spoonbills (Plataleaajoja), "Gulls" [Thalasseus acufla- 

 vidus), and several other species yet to be met with ; so I deter- 

 mined upon another round, and steered again for Cay Bokel and 

 Turneff. On the way, three Boobies [Sula fiber) flew round, but 

 out of shot. This species is said to breed on Mauger Cay, at 

 the northern end of Turneff, also in great numbers in some of 

 the Cays of Cape Gracias a Dios. I saw but few of them the 

 whole time I was out. Landing on Turneff, I shot another 

 Turnstone and a Bartram's Sandpiper {Actiturus bartrarnius) , 

 but was disappointed at not finding the Lesser Terns breeding 

 on a small Cay which Sam said they formerly frequented. A 

 good supply of fish from the reef, which Sam speared whilst I 

 was shooting, made some amends for the delay, as, our stock of 

 provisions falling short, we had to depend upon Sam^s dexterity 

 with the spear. 



Hat Cay was our next anchorage. It was now the 18th of 

 May, and the dry season and sea-breezes almost at an end. 

 Clouds were hanging over the land, and gathering waterspouts 



