WoRriiiNGTON : Ornhhoi.ocv ok Hahama Islands. 397 



sighted at six o'clock, and an lunir later we passed the lii;iitli()use, 

 where the breakers were throwing the snowy spray high o\er the rocky 

 blulTs — a pretty sight indeed. Our course was now shai)ed for Nassau, 

 and the high huul on Xew Providence was sighted from aloft at one 

 o'clock. A little after two o'clock the city was in sight from the deck, 

 and at half past three (December 24) we finally reached our des- 

 tination. 



lnter\iews were had with Mr. Julian Potter, U. S. Consul, Hon. 

 W. Ihut Bennett, Colonial Secretary, and His Excellency Sir William 

 Gre> -Wilson, Governor of the Bahama Islands. The authorities 

 treated us very courteously, and promised us every assistance in their 

 power in carrying on our w^ork. Lodgings were then secured for the 

 night, and we presently retired, but not to sleep. It is the custom on 

 Christmas Eve to allow the colored population to "celebrate" without 

 interference. Assembling at dark in companies, arrayed in barbaric 

 masquerade costumes, they parade the streets, exploding firecrackers, 

 blowing horns, and beating drums and tin pans. The din continues 

 the entire night through, rendering sleep impossible. Friday being 

 Christmas, all business was at a standstill, and our baggage was not 

 released until noon on Saturday, on notice from the Colonial Secretary 

 that collecting licenses would be granted. At my request a license w^as 

 issued to my assistant, allowing us to double the number of specimens 

 in our series. In the meantime, through the kindness of Mr. Charles 

 Lightbourne, we were able to secure for our headquarters a vacant 

 bungalow, situated on the crest of the Blue Hills, about three miles 

 south of Nassau, commanding a view of the city on the north and the 

 sea on the south, and to this w^e removed our outfit during the after- 

 noon, and got settled and ready to begin work the following Monday. 

 We engaged as a cook a colored "boy," whom Mr. Lightbourne 

 recommended, and w-ho was quite a character in his way. 



Our bungalow was situated in the midst of what had once been a 

 large sisal farm, but which through years of neglect had reverted to 

 the original wild and overgrown condition, a thicket of weeds and 

 shrubbery growing close up to the building, atYording excellent 

 opportunities for the study of birds right at hand. A short distance 

 farther along the ridge was the dwelling of Mr. Lightbourne's sister, 

 surrounded by an orchard of orange, grape-fruit, wild fig, and numer- 

 ous other trees, to which place access was given us by the owner.. 

 Excursions were made to the "Farms," some six or seven miles to the 



