136 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



parent interest. When everything was arranged to my satisfaction the 

 exposure was made, and then, much to my chagrin, I found my holders 

 contained but one more unexposed plate. Much as I desired to take two 

 negatives in order to be sure of good results, I was forced to content myself 

 with one, the last plate being used for the nest and egg. 



Imagine my disappointment when I developed the plates to find that 

 both were fogged by the dampness of the climate, and while the nest and 

 egg were not beyond repair, the bird on the nest was worthless. This 

 nest was rather remarkable, being well built of sea-weed and Sargassum, 

 whereas usually the egg is laid on the bare rock, 



A few days later 1 received a fresh shipment of plates and again set 

 forth. 



During the interval, however, I had learned much in regard to the habits 

 of my intended subjects. 1 found among other peculiarities that whereas 

 from about 9 o'clock until noon they were constantly visible, at other por- 

 tions of the day they disappeared. An investigation disclosed the fact that 

 at these times they retired to their nests, where they dozed and slept. 

 Sometimes both birds would retire to the nest, but usually the female 

 would stay on the egg while her mate took up quarters near by, either in 

 a shallow cavity or beneath some overhanging or projecting rock. More- 

 over 1 found that at these times they were exceedingly loth to take flight, 

 and even when lifted from their feet and tossed in the air, they would 

 tumble clumsily to the rocks, and flapping and fluttering about, again 

 scramble to a satisfactory position, where blinking stupidly, they resumed 

 their siesta. 



With this knowledge 1 immediately directed my steps to an overhanging 

 cliff, from whose face a number of great masses had fallen, and which, 

 resting in the water below, formed a sort of natural causeway. Here, as 

 I expected, 1 found the female sitting on the solitary egg, while her mate 

 dozed nearby. Without the least trouble the camera was set up on the 

 fallen rocks and several perfect negatives of the male secured, as well as a 

 very satisfactory one of the female on her nest. 



The Tropic birds I found did not feed exclusively on fish or marine life, 

 but were very fond of land snails, which they obtained along the edges of 

 the cliffs, and also on beaches, where they were often lying in winrows 

 cast up by the tide. See urchins also furnished a considerable portion of 

 their diet. 



Although the pairs are always together when on the nest or rocks, 

 when flying about they almost invariably fly in groups of four or five. 

 Their power of flight is very great and they daily travel over a hundred 

 miles out to sea and return. 



A most remarkable effect is produced when these graceful birds are fly- 



