BIRDS OK THE BAHAMA ISLANDS. 1 99 



easily as a knife. Signs of this bad disposition continued for some 

 days, but gradually they seemed to become accustomed to civilized 

 life, and became cfuite affectionate, running in an ungainly manner 

 towards me whenever I appeared with a fish in nn- hand. It 

 was amusing to watch the struggles of the youngsters in their 

 endeavors to swallow fish nearly as large as themselves, and their 

 apparent disgust at being unsuccessful. After a while a tub half 

 full of water was placed at their disposal, in which they splashed 

 about, seeming to enjoy it greatly. About two months after their 

 capture, the smaller bird seemed to grow gradually weaker and 

 weaker, and one morning we fountl him lying dead in his box. The 

 other seemed to mope for a few days after the loss of his brother, 

 but soon recovered his s[)irits and became as lively as ever. i\s he 

 grew older he became more and more difficult to i:)lease in regard to 

 his food. Nothing would tempt him to eat a fish which had l)een 

 dead over night. Oftentimes while cruising from one island to 

 another we were detained by contrary winds and unable to prociu'e 

 fresh fish with which to feed him. At such times he would eat 

 nothing, and it was necessary to force food down his throat to 

 keep him from starving. When very himgry or teased by one of 

 the men, he would walk around the deck with liis mouth open, 

 uttering a peculiar guttural sound. Iniubation commences about 

 December lo. 



Fig. Aud. Bds. N. A., Vol. VI. pi. 417. 



