14 BIRDS OF THE BAHAMA ISLANDS. 



their horses were sometunes killed by them. This statement may 

 be easily believed after having experienced the torture which they 

 inflict, and seeing the animals literally covered with insects. The 

 small keys which, during the winter, present a desolate appear- 

 ance, in the summer season teem with bird life ; thousands of Terns 

 of different species repair to these deserted spots to breed, and 

 their eggs might be gathered by the barrelful, as the rocks and 

 sand are, in places, almost covered with them. 



Inagua, besides being one of the largest islands of the Bahamas, 

 is the most southern of the group. It is interesting to the sports- 

 man and the naturalist on account of the numbers of animals and 

 birds which are common there, but are rarely found on any of the 

 other islands. A few miles from the coast the road comes out upon 

 a large prairie, where wild cattle, horses, and asses are abundant. 

 Back of Mathewstown, a large lake some twelve miles in length 

 abounds witli Ducks and marsh birds. Flamingoes are very abun- 

 dant, and the inhabitants organize a party every year, discover their 

 breeding-places, and gather many hundreds of their eggs. Among 

 the birds interesting to the naturalist might be mentioned the Parrot, 

 Spoonbill (which, in sonie places, is very abundant), and the little 

 Humming-bird {D. lyitra), which seems to be restricted to this island. 

 The island of Inagua has never been fully explored, and would no 

 doubt richly repay any naturalist who had the leisure and energy to 

 complete the exploration of its interior. 



Long Island and Eluthera are worthy of a visit on account of 

 the natural caves which aliound, some of them large and beautiful. 



