94



On some Bahama Birds.



is a curious and superficial resemblance between the Pigeons and

the Noddies, so much so that at a distance in the glare of the sun

one has to look twice to make sure to which species the bird

belongs; this resemblance is curiously enough augmented by a

habit of the Noddies of taking what, for want of a better term, I

would call “ nuptial flights.” These flights are undertaken by a

pair of birds, and consist of a very rapid and sharp flight high

up in the air with sudden alterations in its course which very

greatly resembles that of the Pigeon. I am not of course

suggesting any possible mimicry, which I think in this case very

improbable, but merely noting a curious coincidence.


There remains but one more species to be noted on these

Cays, namely the Dusk}'- Shearwater (P. auduboni) known locally

as the “ Pimblico.” Although on some of the Cays these birds

swarm during the breeding season yet I never saw one of its own

free will, and one might well spend the whole breeding season on

the Cays without being aware of its presence. It nests in holes

and recesses of the rocks generally far in and out of sight, but

sometimes under the thick matted plants or under the centre of

some prickly pear. Before the single egg is laid both birds occupy

the hole, but,when incubation commences, one bird only is found.

In the majority of cases the male bird was found incubating

during the day, but there did not appear to be any invariable

rule. During incubation they sit very close, allowing themselves

to be lifted off the egg, but not without many protests of a

forcible nature from their powerful and sharp-pointed bill; in

fact when caught they are extremely pugnacious and fight and

bite at anything within reach, even if it be one of their own

fellow comrades. When the young is hatched they do not brood

it like a hen, but sit beside it for the first three or four days, after

which, during the daytime at all events, the chick is left to

itself.


As soon as the young is hatched they will not remain by it

if disturbed, but scuttle away to the farthest end of the hole or

even make their way out by another entrance and, when free, run

along with shuffling gait to seek shade and shelter, but never, so

far as my experience went, would they take to the wing unless

thrown up over the sea. The note of the old bird is very harsh,



