338 Wetmore, Birds of Desecheo Island, P. R. [j^y 



was said that egging parties visited Desecheo at times but the currents 

 and the rocky shoreline make landing difficult and laborious so that the 

 birds are not often disturbed. 



4. Fregata magnificens Matthews. Man-o '-War- bird. — About 

 175 pairs nested on Desecheo Island in 1912 and all had well grown young 

 at the time of my visit. A pair of adults was collected on June 15. The 

 female fell into the sea when shot and floated for some time with the bill 

 submerged. On skinning this bird I found the air-sacs between skin and 

 body filled with water. 



5. Haematopus palliatus (Temminck). Oyster-catcher. — Three 

 Oyster-catchers were found June 14 on flat rocks washed by the waves. 

 Although other birds of this uninhabited island were very tame the Oyster- 

 catchers were wary. When I came in sight they flew to some outlying 

 inaccessible rocks and repeated this performance whenever I appeared. 

 The whistle was louder and sharper than that of H. bachmani with whose 

 notes I had been familiar in the Aleutian Islands. Others were seen on the 

 following day but none were taken. Mr. Bowdish (1902-03, p. 360) noted 

 this species. 



6. Larus atricilla atricilla Linnaeus. Laughing Gull. — About 

 thirty Laughing Gulls were seen on Desecheo but no nests were found. 

 These Gulls worked along the beaches hunting for food or perched on 

 boulders commanding an outlook of the water line. An adult was col- 

 lected June 14. 



7. Anotis stolidus stolidus (Linnaeus). Noddy. — The Noddy was 

 abundant on Desecheo and was breeding in the limestone ledges near the 

 sea. At the time of my visit there were about two thousand here while 

 many more were feeding a few miles offshore. On the cliffs above camp was 

 a colony of two hundred, that was never quiet day or night. Many had 

 not picked their nesting sites as yet and were examining the ledges, quarrel- 

 ing with the birds already settled and in turn getting their tail feathers 

 tweaked sharply. When alarmed the Noddies flew all about me, calling 

 harshly and there was great excitement among them at every intrusion. 

 Some would leave their nests and dart fiercely at my head while others 

 remained on their eggs until I was almost within reach. These terns were 

 more or less active all night long, flying about and calling loudly. The 

 common call note was a harsh Kar-r-rk and a scolding note resembled 

 Kwok Kwok. In feeding the birds hovered over the water, darting quickly 

 down, poising an instant while picking something from the surface and then 

 rising again. Eggs taken ranged in incubation from fresh to well incubated. 

 No young were found. Birds were collected for skins on June 13, 14 and 15. 

 Mr. Bowdish (1902-03, p. 358) found a few well grown young on June 24, 

 1900. 



8. Sterna aneetheta Scopoli. Bridled Tern. — A common breeding 

 bird. I estimated that there were about 1500 of these terns on Desecheo 

 Island. Many were gathered on some large rocks lying offshore that I 

 could not reach, while others frequented the limestone cliffs and huge 



