BIRDS OF THE BAHAMA ISLANDS. 21 7 



were at once surrounded by an innumerable quantity of these birds, 

 circling around us, uttering incessant cries, as if trying to drive us 

 away from their nests, which we could see on all sides of us. At 

 this spot we could have gathered many barrels of eggs had we wished 

 to do so, for there seemed to be no limit to them. The nests are 

 composed of grass and sticks, and are generally built upon the low 

 cactus-bushes with which the whole island is covered. Occasionally 

 an egg was found simply deposited upon the rock. Incubation com- 

 mences about the latter part of May. On May 23 all the eggs 

 collected were quite fresh. 



Fig. Aud. Bds. N. A., Vol. VII. pi. 440. 



