Breeding of Puffinus auduboni. 61 



exist, more especially as it is so insignificant a rock that it 

 is not even named on the Admiralty chart. On landing in 

 Barbados I at once made inquiries on the subject, at first 

 with little success, and the Bird-rock seemed to be an unknown 

 spot, whilst the idea of sea-birds breeding in Barbados was 

 generally scouted. Fortunately I addressed a letter on the 

 subject to the Rev. G. Duncan Gittens, Rector of St. Lucy's 

 parish, and by return of post received the following reply : 

 "I know Bird-rock well, having some years ago made an 

 incursion upon it with some friends for the express purpose 

 of capturing some of the many young of the sea-birds which 

 abound on that rock. It lies about a hundred yards from 

 the actual coast-line of this island, and the birds, if very 

 young, are a mass of gluten, and although very strong-tasted, 

 when properly purified by lime-juice and salt, are by some 

 considered a deUcacy.^' This information was accompanied 

 by a very kind invitation to visit the Rectory and to attempt 

 a raid on Bird-rock. 



It was a long drive, seventeen miles, from the Garrison to 

 St. Lucy's Rectory ; but I started well before daybreak and 

 the sun had not been long above the horizon, nor the labourers 

 long amongst the sugar-canes, when I drew up at the Rectory 

 door. I received a most cordial welcome from the venerable 

 Rector, who had been forty-nine years in Holy orders, and 

 thirty-three in the incumbency of St. Lucy's parish. After 

 breakfast Mr. Gittens drove me to visit some caves on Mount 

 Gilboa, referred to by Hughes * , and I picked up in their 

 neighbourhood several shell-chisels and pieces of rude pottery. 

 In the main cave is a deep deposit of soil covered with stones, 

 the methodical exploration of which would be highly desirable. 

 We then drove to the coast-line overlooking Bird-rock ; the 

 way down to the shore is a steep and slippery path, cut through 

 the coral rock ; but neither the heat nor the difficulty of the 

 road deterred my host, who managed the descent and ascent, 

 unaided, and quite as well as I did. On reaching the little 

 cave at the base of the cliff. Bird -rock was pointed out to me, 

 and I could hardly believe my eyes when told that this was 

 * Op. cit. p. 7. 



