BIRDS OF THE BAHAMA ISLANDS. 22 1 



of them feeding and flying all day, are yet never seen in the vicinity 

 of their breeding-places before dark. When anchored in the night- 

 time near one of the keys, on which they breed, their mournful note 

 can be heard at all hours of the night ; during the day they may be 

 seen feeding in large flocks, generally out of sight of land. The}' 

 do not fly round much, but remain most of the time cjuiet upon the 

 surface of the water. I did not see one on the banks, and never saw 

 them dive or apparently catching any fish, though they are often 

 in company with Boobies and different species of Terns, all of which 

 are actively employed in fishing. About half-way from Andros to 

 the Bank, I saw on the 26th of April a flock of Boobies, Sooty 

 Terns, Noddies, Cabot's Tern, and the Dusky Petrel, that covered 

 the surface of the water, or hovering over it for an extent of at least 

 a square mile. Their number must have been enormous." 



The inhabitants claim that this species has received its local 

 name of " Pimblico " from its cry ; but I cannot perceive any resem- 

 blance between that name and the mournful notes which it utters. 

 and therefore believe it to have originated differently. 



Fig. And. Bds. N. A., Vol. VII. pi. 458. 



