Catalogue of Birds. 103 



obtained (large and of a purple color), this is the only one I 

 have ever seen or that has been laid here during the last three 

 years ; it was unfortunately broken. In 1863 a few were seen 

 at intervals from February 7th to June 8th, when the last one 

 was observed and shot. It will be thus seen that these birds 

 are rare here. However, a captain who landed in 1848 informed 

 me that they were then present, as well as the other sea birds, 

 in prodigious numbers." 



29. Phaeton Jlavirastris, Brandt. 



Mr. Julien described one specimen of Tropic bird that came 

 under his notice, which undoubtedly was this species. 



30. Ckroicocephalus atricitta (Linn.). 



" * Laughing Gull.' This species is not abundant ; they asso- 

 ciate with the Royal Terns in the same manner as the Sooty 

 Terns with the Noddies." 



31. Thalasseus regius, Gambel. 



" ' White Gull,' In 1862 a large flock arrived May 13th, 

 the first egg was found June 5th ; there were large flocks in 

 July and August, they left the middle of August. In 1863 

 large numbers arrived April 16th and departed the same day. 

 The attendance of this species was very variable this year, 

 sometimes going out every morning as if to fish and coming 

 back every night ; sometimes departing for one or more weeks 

 and again suddenly returning ; again being represented by a 

 few pair sitting upon the buoys, which are moored a consi- 

 derable distance to the westward of the Key. In this latter 

 habit they are peculiar, as most of the sea birds, and especially 

 the Noddies, never frequent the buoys, but prefer to rest upon 

 the Key. June 28th, large flocks of this species and an abund- 

 ance of their eggs were found to-day, by the schooner attendant 

 upon this island, upon * Little Dog Island,' a small Key some 

 twenty miles to S. E. A large flock remained at Sombrero all 

 July and departed August 13th. The flocks of this species pre- 

 sent a very pretty snow-white appearance when settled upon 

 the ground. They prefer to rest on the sandy tract or upon the 



