AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 135 



HABITS. 



The Yellow-billed Tropic Bird, although found throughout the West 

 Indies and in fact a large portion of Central and South America, is in no 

 locality so abundant as in the Bermudas. Here, protected by wise and 

 strict laws, they come annually to breed in thousands. Arriving during 

 the latter part of March they at once enter on domestic cares and as soon 

 as their young are able to accompany them leave the little mid-ocean islands 

 for another season. For the few months during which they remain, they 

 fill the air with their cries, and one can scarcely look seaward in any 

 direction without seeing a score or so of the beautiful creatures flying rap- 

 idly to and fro or resting gracefully on the azure waters, with tail perked 

 upward to protect the slender plumes. 



When a few months ago I sailed for Bermuda, 1 determined to secure 

 photographs of the Tropic Birds from life. This, I supposed, would be an 

 easy matter to accomplish, as I had repeatedly heard of their tameness and 

 abundance. I found the birds plentiful enough and every rough and jagged 

 limestone cliff had one or more pairs breeding therein. Even close to 

 houses and settlements, when suitable holes or crevices were to be found, 

 they laid their handsome, chocolate-colored eggs, apparently oblivious of 

 the proximity of man. 



It seemed, however, as if my hopes of photographing them would be 

 shattered, for nest after nest was discovered, only to ffnd that in each case 

 photography was out of the question, in one, the hole would be so deep 

 and narrow that only the long tail of the sitting bird was visible. In an- 

 other, the hole would be large and the inmate clearly discernible, but in 

 such heavy shadow that only a long, time-exposure would be possible, to 

 which the parent strongly objected, ruffling her feathers and squalling at 

 the queer instrument at the door of her snug home. In still another, where 

 light and all else was favorable, it would be necessary to cling to the per- 

 pendicular rock by fingers and toes, and setting up a camera was out of the 

 question, while by far the greater number of nests were absolutely inac- 

 cessible. 



The birds sat very close, however, fighting and biting when disturbed 

 and showing not the least sign of fear, returning immediately to the nest 

 when removed. Of course it would have been possible to capture a bird 

 and securing it, take a photogaaph while in captivity, but that was not 

 what I wished, and day after day I visited fresh nests in the hopes of find- 

 ing at least one suitable for my purposes. 



At last the hoped for opportunity arrived. On the shore of a small un- 

 inhabited island I found a bird sitting quietly on her egg in a wide, shal- 

 low crevice at the base of a cliff. Here I could set up my camera and 

 focus at leisure, while the inmate of the hole watched operations with ap- 



