1887.] Scott on the Bird Rookeries of Son titer n Florida. 2IQ 



I think, undoubtedly Charadriits squatarola, although no spec- 

 imens were obtained. I am much impressed with the great 

 numbers of the far northward breeding birds which are present 

 still in large numbers at points about here. At any of the 

 passes or outside beaches I see daily and in large flocks such 

 birds as Charadrius squatarola, ^'Egialitis scmipalmata^ Are- 

 naria interprets, AlacrorampJuis griseus, Tringa cantitus, 

 T. minutilla, T. alpina, Calidris arcnaria, etc. These I 

 carefully identified and made almost daily notes of their occur- 

 rence until the 25th of May. After that observations were 

 made of Macroramphus griseus in large flocks as late as 

 June ro. 



Friday, May 14. Spent the day in waiting for some of the 

 larger birds to dry — so as to pack them — and in hunting for the 

 Black-whiskered Vireos, which appear to be common but par- 

 ticularly wary and difficult to see in the thick mangrove. 



Saturday, May 15. Packed up everything in readiness to 

 continue course to-morrow, leaving birds to dry until the last 

 moment. 



Sunday, May 16. Left early this morning, and going south 

 about four miles, anchored again oft' two large mangrove islands 

 just inside of the south end of Pine Island. Here were more 

 birds breeding than at any point where we had thus far cruised. 

 These were principally Brown Pelicans, and there must have 

 been at least two hundred pairs or more. The nests were in 

 most cases finished, and many of them contained eggs. 



The Florida Cormorants also had nests in considerable num- 

 bers, and beside these a few pairs of Great Blue Herons were 

 breeding on the island. No other birds were breeding here. 



There were many thousands of Man-o'-war Birds that made 

 this a roosting or resting place, and many of them were here 

 more or less through the day, their numbers being greatly 

 augmented every night. They were in all phases of plumage 

 and generally moulting. 



The birds are said not to breed anywhere on the Gulf Coast, 

 except at two points near Key West, and the breeding season, 

 judging from the examples of the birds obtained, was past by two 

 or three months. These birds haunt the Pelican and Heron 

 rookeries, preying on the fish brought to the young birds, 

 and are as truly parasitic as the Jaegers. Often, too, I have seen 



