2*7 A. Scott on the Bird Rookeries of Southern Florida. [October 



evidently breeding. Among the Terns I noticed Sterna max- 

 ima, S. sandvicensis acuflavida, S. forstcri, S. hirundo, S. 

 antillarum, and Hydrochelidon nigra surinamensis. All of 

 these were abundant save the Cabot's Tern, which was appar- 

 ently rare, and most of the species, S. antillarum excepted, 

 were in flocks and had not begun to breed. S. hirundo had, 

 with few exceptions, not completed the moult, and the same ob- 

 servation applies to S.forsteri, a large proportion of each species 

 being still in immature or winter plumage, or beginning to assume 

 the breeding dress. Black Skimmers were rather common, in 

 flocks of from twenty to as many as several hundred, and Laugh- 

 ing Gulls were very abundant, in large flocks, and mostly in 

 immature or winter plumage, the birds with black heads being 

 only occasionally seen. I also saw now and again the American 

 Herring Gull, and rather more frequently a Ring-billed Gull 

 (Larus delawarensis) . Florida Cormorants were uncommon 

 at this point, being mostly at the breeding grounds, and the only 

 Ducks seen were a pair of Florida Ducks (Anas fulviguld). 



Very large flocks of Charadrius squatarola were conspicuous 

 among the beach-birds, and Wilson's Plover was also abundant, 

 and either breeding or about to breed. Here, too, I noticed a 

 considerable number of Roseate Spoonbills (Aj'aj'a ajajd). 

 But all the birds, though in such large numbers, were very wild ; 

 most of the day was spent in trying to get a White Pelican ; three 

 of us tried to stalk the birds, but they were so very wary, hav- 

 ing evidently been much hunted, that we not only did not get 

 any but could get no nearer than three hundred yards of them. 

 All the other species were well acquainted with the shotgun and 

 with man, and were as wild and shy as I have ever seen birds 

 anywhere. At night, the skins already taken being well aired 

 and dried, I determined to proceed in the morning to the next 

 pass to the north of this one, namely Little Gasparilla. 



Saturday, May 22. Leaving Champion Ranch early, and 

 with a light, fair breeze, we were soon at Little Gasparilla. 

 After an early dinner, leaving Dickinson on the 'Tantalus,' Cap- 

 tain Baker and Wilkerson went with me in the tender to explore 

 the islands and keys of what is known as Kettle Harbor. This 

 locality, once famous as the breeding ground of Herons and 

 kindred birds of the region, is the next large bay north of Char- 

 lotte Harbor, and, though not more than four miles wide, is 



