Vol. XXII j Riley, Birds of Bahama Islands. 351 



sitting on the edge of the nests, that were from fifteen to twenty feet up, 

 or on the limbs out of the nest. Some of the young were already in the 

 water with their parents, though they could not fly apparently. A few 

 nests contained heavily incubated eggs. This was on July 11. A few 

 cormorants were seen on the salt pans around Clarence Harbor, Long 

 Island, but as none were shot here their identity is in doubt, though they 

 appeared to belong to the same form as those shot on Watlings. The 

 young are eaten by the inhabitants and are said to be very good. The 

 numerous downy skins found along the shores of the salt lakes on Wat- 

 lings, would indicate that young cormorant is quite an item in the domes- 

 tic economy of the islanders. 



6. Fregata aquila (Linn.). Man-o'-War Bird. — Man-o'-War Birds 

 were seen in greater or less numbers at New Providence, Eleuthera, Cat 

 Island, Rum Cay, Watlings Island, and Abaco. We were much interested 

 in watching a Laughing Grill, early one morning, making repeated 

 swoops at some object floating in the water, when one of these birds came 

 silently up and carried off the booty without an effort, much to the dis- 

 comfiture of the gull. In flying or sailing, which seems to be done with- 

 out an effort, the tail is carried closed as a rule. 



7. Phcenicopterus ruber Linn. American Flamingo. — Not uncom- 

 mon and breeding on Grassy Creek, Andros. Though we did not reach 

 the nesting grounds, on account of the very short time allotted us to 

 make the trip, we saw the birds in the distance in a long red line and 

 were told that they were nesting there. One that was feeding in a shal- 

 low part of the swash, and on which we succeeded in stealing up to with- 

 in a hundred yards, would put its head under water and then move the 

 feet backward as if it was scratching up the mud to obtain food. In 

 flight the head and feet are held in nearly a straight line with the body 

 and the bird presents a very striking figure, like a pair of black-tipped 

 wings, that appear inadequate for support, fitted to a long red line with 

 a knot at the end where the head is situated. In all we saw a number of 

 detached flocks and single birds, besides the main body in the distance, 

 during the day we spent here, but the birds are very wary from continued 

 persecution by the inhabitants and visiting sportsmen from Nassau. 

 The country they inhabit is very difficult to hunt over, being mostly 

 under water with small keys and mud flats here and there, and is locally 

 called swash. We were told that late in the summer they moult all the 

 flight feathers at once and are then pursued and captured by the inhabit- 

 ants. A small colony, we were informed, breeds on the lake near Clarence 

 Harbor, Long Island, but we did not have an opportunity of verifying 

 this report. 



8. Herodias egretta (Gm.). American Egret. — Several were shot on 

 Grassy Creek, Andros. They were also seen on Eleuthera, Watlings 

 Island, and Long Island, generally singly. 



9. Hydranassa tricolor ruficollis (Gosse). Louisiana Heron. — Very 

 common and breeding on Watlings Island, July 12. All the young seen 

 were nearly, if not quite, able to fly. 



