Catalogue of Birds. 95 



"In 1861 this class of birds arrived on the 29th of April in large 

 flocks. Eggs were laid in large numbers until about the middle of June, 

 and by August nearly all the birds had again flown southward. 



"In 1862 large flocks suddenly arrived on March 18th. They were 

 quite variable in their attendance on the Key, sometimes being present 

 in large numbers, and occasionally being nearly all absent. The first 

 egg was found on March 23d, and they continued to be laid in numbers 

 (only about two or three thousand in all), until the latter part of May. 

 Most departed in June, but a few flocks still remained until the latter 

 part of August. 



"In 1863 only a few individuals arrived, Feb. 22d, instead of the 

 usual large flocks of Noddies, but a large flock of Royal Terns arrived in 

 the following month. Nests were begun on May 4th, and on the 24th 

 the first egg was found. The large flocks disappeared in the latter part 

 of June, but a few remained until the end of August. 



*' II. Birds of the September Passage. 



"In 1861, either in August or early in September (I omitted to note 

 the date), large flocks of birds passed over the Key, coming from the 

 N. W. and going to the S. E., i. e. towards St. Martin. Several of 

 these flocks thus passed during several days, and only a few stragglers 

 alighted upon the Key. 



" In 1862, September, I was absent from the Key. 



"In 1863, from Sept. 2d to Sept. 12th, several flocks passed in the 

 same way, containing from three to about one hundred individuals. 

 Flocks also passed during the night; cries were heard as if from many 

 birds flying to the S. E. Some of these flocks appeared to consist of one 

 species, others of two or more. Some of the flocks flew very high, but 

 others at a less elevation. The following fact was observed in some cases 

 both by myself and others upon the Key : as the flock arrived over the 

 Key it hesitated in its flight, rose nearly vertically to a greater elevation, 

 hesitated, again sank to its former level, and continued its flight towards 

 the south-east. All this was done in a few seconds ; we fancied they 

 acted thus for the following reasons : that Sombrero was the first land 

 they had made in their flight, that they hesitated to alight here, there- 

 fore rose to get a better view of the other islands (perhaps over inter- 



