BIRDS OF THE BAHAMA ISLANDS. 221 
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. They 
do not fly round much, but remain most of the time quiet 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. Aud. Bds. N. A. Vol. VII. pl. 458. 
