54 Gross, The Yellow-hilled Tropic-bird. [jj^ 



The adult birds are most active during the early morning hours ; 

 it is only occasionally that they can be seen feeding during the 

 middle of the day, the heat at that time being perhaps great enough 

 to account for the diminution in their numbers. A few of my notes 

 taken July 8-9, 1910, when two of us spent the night on Morgan's 

 Island, may serve to show something of the usual activities and how 

 they are related in time to the activities of other birds. Morgan's 

 Island is one of the several islands at the entrance of Ely's Harbor. 

 The limestone cliffs on the seaward side constitute one of the 

 most extensive and accessible rookeries of the Tropic-bird to be 

 found in Bermuda, hence an ideal place for studying the habits 

 of both old and young birds. My notes are as follows : 

 "July 9, 3:30 a. m. The first bird note heard is the clear ringing 



whistle of the Cardinal, which is roosting among the palmettos. 

 "4:00 A. M. The Catbirds are beginning to tune up. 

 "4:20 A.M. The White-eyed Vireos are joining the Catbirds in 



the oleanders. 

 "4: 30 A. M. Dawn approaching rapidly; the distant upper clouds 



are reflecting the light of the morning sun. 

 "4:50 A.M. In the cedars, European Goldfinches are beginning 



to sing, but their notes can scarcely be distinguished in the 



exuberant chorus of other songsters. 

 " 5 : 00 A. M. Sunlight to be seen on the trees of the hilltops. 

 "5:05 A.M. First Tropic-bird leaves the cliff. 

 "5:10 A.M. At some distance from our hiding place two more 



Tropic-birds appear. 

 "5:20 A.M. Tropic-birds are leaving the nests situated close 



about us. Some of them apparently have discovered our 



presence and are showing signs of uneasiness. 

 "5:45 A.M. At some distance out at sea an adult bird makes a 



perpendicular dive into the water from a height of about 



50 feet. 

 "6:00 A.M. Many Tropic-birds are flying about on the sea side 



of the island. Birds are constantly leaving or returning to 



their nests. 

 "6:25 A.M. Songs of the land birds diminishing in volume. 

 " 6: 30 A. M. About 50 Tropic-birds can be seen at one time in the 



immediate vicinity of the cHfl's and many others are either 



going out or returning from the sea." 



