iSgo.] Scott on Birds at the Dry Tortugas. 3 ^7 



these birds. He had secured it a year or two ago, and it was the only one 

 of the kind he had seen during a stay of five years at Garden Key. 



8. Sula sula Booby. — A. few Boobies were observed during my stay, 

 but none secured. I believe them to have been this species. Later, on 

 April 19, Dr. Goodman procured one which he sent to me. I am told by 

 all the old sailors and sponge fishermen who have been familiar with 

 this region for years, that formerly the Boobies were abundant, and bred 

 and roosted in great numbers on East Key. They were very tame, and 

 could be readily killed with sticks, and being much liked for the pot, 

 have been gradually diminishing in numbers, till now it is unusual to see 

 these birds, except out at sea or perched on some buoy that marks the 

 passages through the outer reef. Mr. Atkins, while repairing the Key 

 West and Cuban cable, in March and April, 1890, saw Boobies not at all 

 uncommonly, and told me that, whenever they were obliged to mark any 

 part of their work with buoys, on returning to such a point Boobies were 

 almost always to be seen taking advantage of these roosting places. 

 The birds were very tame and could be easily approached ; but none were 

 secured, as time did not permit. 



9. Phalacrocorax dilophus floridanus. Florida Cormorant. — This 

 species is apparently rare at the Tortugas. I learned from good authority 

 that they were occasionally seen. None were observed by myself or 

 party during our stay. 



10. Pelecanus fuscus. Brown Pelican. — A few were observed every 

 day during my stay, and their numbers were occasionally increased so 

 that the birds were noticeably common. They were for the most part 

 in the gray phase, and but few birds in breeding plumage were noticed. 

 They do not breed at this point, but from reliable men I learn that there 

 is a large breeding rookery of both these birds and Florida Cormorants 

 on one of the keys of the Marquesas group. 



11. Fregata aquila. Man-o'-war-bird. — Noticed every day during 

 my stay. They did not seem to come to this point for food, as they were 

 rarely seen fishing for themselves or chasing the Terns for food. But 

 almost every day about noon a party of from four to twenty of these birds 

 came to Garden Key and, attaining a point just above the Harbor Light 

 Tower on the northeast wall of the fort, they would begin to soar in 

 what seemed a sort of way of resting. The circles were of about one 

 hundred feet diameter; the flight very regular, slow and monotonous, 

 with no apparent motion of the wings for hours. It tired one to look at 

 them. They would keep this up till after dark at night; at least they were 

 to be seen as long as there was light to distinguish them, and on one moon- 

 light night, not long before I left the Tortugas, at eleven o'clock I saw 

 five of these wonderful flyers still soaring high above the light tower. It 

 must not be thought that one of these birds came and that another went 

 away and that so the appearance of tireless soaring was carried on. They 

 came and went away in parties, and solitary individuals were exceptional. 

 They are said to greatly increase in numbers about the time the young 

 Terns and Noddies are hatched, and to persecute the old birds bringing 



