56 Wermorp, Birds of Culebra Island, P. R. — 
RIGBY, id EL 
1903. Description of a new Quail-dove from the West Indies. Proc. 
Biol. Soc. Washington, XVI, 1903, pp. 13-14. (Records 
Geotryon mystacea from Culebra.) 
WETMORE, ALEX. 
1916. Birds of Porto Rico. Bull. 326, U.S. Dept. Agr. 1916. 
ANNOTATED LIST. 
1. Podilymbus podiceps antillarum Bangs. ANTILLEAN PIED- 
BILLED GREBE.— Reported from the lagoons. 
2. [Phaéthon ethereus Linnzus. Rep-BILLED TROPIC-BIRD.— 
Catesby (Natural History of Carolina, etc., 1743, appendix, p. 14) says that 
this species breeds in great numbers on some little islands at the east end 
of Porto Rico. Culebra or rocks near it may have been included.] 
3. Phaéthon americanus Grant. YELLOW-BILLED TROPIC-BIRD.— 
On April 11 six or eight tropic-birds were circling about a rocky point on 
Louis Pefia Island. At a distance the elongated rectrices were not visible 
so that the birds were mistaken at first for gulls. Three were collected but 
one blew out to sea and was lost. One wing-tipped bird bit me viciously 
when I grasped it. Other tropic birds were seen on April 13. 
4. Pelecanus occidentalis Linneus. Brown PELIcAN.— Common. 
In the shallow bay at Playa Sardine from two to twenty pelicans were found 
daily. Most of them had the seal brown cervical feathers of the breeding 
plumage developed but a few were still in dark immature plumage. The 
water in the bay was shallow and small fish were abundant. In feeding 
the pelicans rose, two or three together to circle thirty or forty feet in the 
air. When fish were sighted the birds dove one after another. Or when 
nothing appeared they set the wings and glided down over the surface of 
the water and then rose to circle again. In diving the birds turned straight 
down. The wings were closed just before the water was reached and the 
bird disappeared entirely under the surface. In a few seconds it would 
reappear, fly heavily for a few feet, settle on the water facing the wind and 
hold the point of the bill down to drain the pouch. When this was accom- 
plished the point of the bill was thrown up and out and the captured fish 
were swallowed with a gulp. This done the pelican would rise and join 
its circling companions once more. In diving in very shallow water the 
birds turned their breasts and spread their wings to check their momentum 
never going below the surface. When satisfied all rested on rocks along 
the shore in characteristic pelican attitudes. On the west coast of Porto 
Rico fishermen believe that these birds when old and feeble commit suicide 
by hanging by the head from some crevice in the rocks. 
5. Sula leucogastra Boddaert. Boopy.— Boobies were said to come 
in flocks the first of May to nest on two small rocks north of Culebrita 
Island. None were seen. 
6. Fregata) magnificens Matthews. Man-o’-War_ Birp.— Seen 
