434 ANSERES. — LARIDiE. 



of the Noddy {Megalopterus stolidus) and the Sand- 

 wich Tern {Thalasseus Cantiacus) form an object 

 of profitable adventure to the crews of numerous 

 small vessels, fitted out in the spring from King- 

 ston and other ports. The Pedro Kays are the 

 grand field whence this harvest is reaped. " These 

 lonely islets," observes Mr. Hill, " are the resort 

 of thousands and tens of thousands of sea-fowl. 

 As soon as visitors land, myriads of birds are upon 

 the wing in all directions. Some flocks rise, in cir- 

 cling flight, high up into the air; and descending 

 again in the same dense numbers as they rose, settle 

 in more remote places : — others break away hurriedly, 

 and fly in a wide sweep far around, but return again 

 hastily to the rocks they had quitted, reconciled 

 to bear with the disturbance. The turmoil and 

 hubbub of the thousands of birds thus suddenly 

 put upon the wing, overpower, for a moment, the 

 roar of the breakers, and darken the air like the 

 sudden passing of a cloud. 



" The constant inhabitants of the rocks are some 

 three species of Gannet, all known as Boobies ; 

 some half a dozen species of Tern, among which 

 the Noddy and the Egg-bird are exceedingly nu- 

 merous ; together with the Frigate Pelican, the 

 Tropic-bird, and the Petrel ; besides a multitude 

 of Gulls 



" There were four vessels from Jamaica there at 

 this time [April, 1846] gathering eggs ; the months 

 of March, April, and May being considered the egg- 

 harvest. 



" The Kays are open to all adventurers ; but the 



