Vol i{HJ6 in ] Fowler, Birds of the Florida Keys. 397 



5. Fregata aquila. Man-o'-War Hawk. — Seen about Key West 

 either high in the sky or frequently darting down into the shallow water, 

 among the vessels at anchor in the harbor, to pick up some scrap of food. 

 Mr. S. Brown observed one swallow a gar (Tylosurus) fully a foot in length. 

 Most of the birds seen had white throats, and the nearly uniform black 

 ones were only occasional. When seen at sea they sail very high, mostly 

 in a straight line, though sometimes napping their wings a little. I saw 

 them at Riding Key and large flocks about the Marquesas. Although 

 reported to breed on some of the islands I did not meet with any nests. 

 A common impression prevalent among a number of fishermen and others, 

 and which I believe has already been noted before, is that these birds will 

 chase and pounce on gulls which immediately vomit. This is then caught 

 in the beak of the marauder, before it reaches the water, and swallowed. 

 The robber if not satisfied will still chase his victim again and sometimes 

 catch him about the neck to repeat the operation. It was also reported 

 that the gulls will cast their excreta and that the Man-o'-War treats it in 

 the same manner. However, I did not observe any of these attributes 

 and merely submit them based on what seemed to me largely reliable 

 information. 



Upon inquiry concerning the Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) or "Fala- 

 mingo" as it was called, it appeared to be either very rare or probably 

 exterminated. None seemed to have been noted during the last ten years. 



6. Ajaia ajaja. Pink Curlew. — One reported from Riding Key 

 though I did not meet with the bird myself. They were also reported to 

 occur on the Marquesas. 



7. Guara alba. White Ibis; Curlew; Brown Ibis. — Flock of a 

 dozen or more adults, and a single brown bird, seen about the bird-rock 

 off Vaca Key. 



8. Ardea occidentalis. Big White Heron; White Heron. — 

 Marquesas, Boca Grande, Ballast, Boca Chica, Sugar Loaf, No Name, 

 Vaca, Grassy, West Cudjoe's and Snipe Keys. First observed on Woman 

 Key and Key C far out from shore. In such places they have a good 

 chance to look out for both food and danger. They are very shy and will 

 not permit even a fair rifle-shot, suddenly flying off into the cover of the 

 thick woodland. They may be seen wading in the water sometimes up 

 to their bellies. They usually frequent shallower water, often standing 

 perfectly motionless or walking about like great white sentinels, their 

 snowy plumage enabling one to distinguish them at a very great distance. 

 For the same reason they may also be located if in the trees, the contrast 

 being very pronounced in the green foliage. Their flesh is used as food 

 and is reported to be of good quality. It is only the younger birds which 

 are preferred for this purpose, as the old ones are said to be tough. At 

 the Marquesas I noticed as many as a dozen individuals stationed about 

 in the shallows at one time. In the mangroves I saw traces of roosting 

 of either these or the other herons. 



A large example was killed on Sugar Loaf Key which had swallowed 



