358 



fAuk 



BowDiSH, Birds of Porto Rico. [5^^" 



entl}' just beginning to breed, and the three single eggs found -were nearly 

 fresh. In each case they were laid in more concealed spots than those 

 selected by the Noddy, — in one case under a rock on the beach, in another 

 in a pocket in the face of a cliff near the top, and the third was in a hollow 

 under a rock about fifteen feet above the beach. The birds were much 

 shyer than the Noddy, leaving the nest with a dash before the intruder 

 approached near enough to locate it. Another egg collected on July 6, 

 1901, and advanced in incubation, was laid on the bare earth, in a hollow 

 behind a rock on a shelf in the face of a cliff ten feet above the beach. In 

 no case was there the slightest nesting material. These breeding notes 

 were made at Decicheo. 



6. Anous stolidus. Noddy. — Not uncommon along the coasts of the 

 main island, and by far the most abundant species on Monaand Decicheo. 

 At the latter island, on June 24, 1900, a few had well grown 3'oung, and 

 most of the eggs were advanced in incubation. These were laid almost 

 invariably on the bare surface of the rock shelves in the face of the cliff, 

 varying from eight to forty feet above the beach, and in only one or two 

 cases was there a slight ring of bits of sticks and stones about them. 

 Thej^ apparently do not lay more than one egg, and the various cliffs are 

 occupied by one, two, three, or a larger number of birds, according to the 

 accommodations; but the sitting birds were never found within reach of 

 each other, which is probably due to their slightly quarrelsome disposi- 

 tion, all reports to the contrary notwithstanding. July 9, 1901, I placed 

 a young one which had fallen from the nest on a rock near another. The 

 parent of the latter attempted to drive the intruder away, when the intrud- 

 ing bird's parent took part in the disturbance, and thereafter there Avas a 

 continuous dispute. At this date the Noddies had nearly all of them 

 young of varying sizes. I found one egg nearly hatching and another 

 almost fresh. In the stomach of one bird examined I found an entire 

 tlying-fish about four inches long and remains of others. Other stomachs 

 contained fish remains. The method of feeding the young is by leisurely 

 disgorging swallowed and half digested food well into the throat of the 

 young. The common note resembles the clamor of young crows, and is 

 often heard, more or less, throughout the night. Of a number of photo- 

 graphs taken I was able to save but one, of a 3'oung bird standing in the 

 shadow of the rock and exhibiting in some degree an example of protec- 

 tive coloration. 



7. Phaethon, sp. .'' — I saw, but failed to secure. Tropic Birds at Decicheo 

 and Mona Islands, but on one occasion, at Mona, a bird passed closely 

 enough for me to distinctly see the yellow bill. Have also seen Tropic 

 Birds at San Juan harbor. 



8. Sula sula. Booby. — Abundant at Mona and Decicheo Islands, and 

 often seen on the coasts of the main island. Probably breeds earlj' as 

 most of the young are on the wing by late June. I suspected the occur- 

 rence of other species of the genus at Decicheo, but failed to substantiate 

 this suspicion. On July 9, 1900, at Aguadilla, I made the following note : 



