«SS7-] Scott on the Bird Rookeries of Southern Florida. 2 7? 



probably about fifteen miles long, and clotted all over with keys 

 of greater or less extent, some of which seemed to present all the 

 conditions most likely to induce birds to resort to them. But 

 though we carefully explored this entire region, up to Stump 

 Pass and for several miles beyond, we found no inhabited rook- 

 ery, and saw only a few straggling Herons or an occasional Fish- 

 hawk or Kingfisher. At three points we found islands that 

 had been in very recent times the breeding homes of Herons, 

 Pelicans, and Cormorants, but they were absolutely deserted, 

 and not so much as a single pair of Herons or other birds were 

 found breeding at any of these places. Captain Baker had 

 promised to show me a very large rookery on an island near 

 Stump Pass, in this harbor, but on reaching the island we 

 found it deserted, though it had evidently been in comparatively 

 recent years the home of thousands of birds, for the evidences, 

 in the way of excrement and fish skeletons, were to be seen all 

 over the ground, and the old nests were in the trees by thous- 

 ands. To make sure that birds did not roost here or at the 

 other deserted rookeries in the harbor, we remained at a point 

 where we could command a view of most of the ground until 

 dark, and not a bird came to roost. By this delay we were so 

 late in getting back to the narrow but long strait which connects 

 Kettle Harbor with the waters above Little Gasparilla Pass that 

 we found the tide so low we were obliged to remain in the small 

 boat all night, the shore being nothing but mangrove swamps 

 for a long distance back into the country. 



Sunday, May 23. At daylight the tide had risen so that we 

 began to make our way to the 'Tantalus.' In the afternoon we 

 took the 'Tantalus' to another anchorage very close to the Pass, 

 for I had determined to go north again as soon as the weather 

 would permit. 



Monday, May 24. The wind being directly ahead to-day 

 and blowing hard, we remained at anchor and explored the 

 neighboring beaches. The Captain found two lots of eggs of the 

 loggerhead turtle on one of the beaches, which had been laid 

 during the night. There were ninety odd eggs in one lot and 

 upward of sixty in the other. Captain Baker told us that the 

 business of hunting the loggerhead turtle for food, and also for 

 the eggs, was carried on mainly during this time of the year, the 

 breeding season, and that the number of turtles had been so 



