NATURAL HISTORY STUDIES 



fixed to a foot-long stake pushed down into the sand 

 near the nest if the bird is a Sooty, or tied to a con- 

 venient twig if the bird is a Noddy ; the bird is put 

 into a large hooded cage and transported to a 

 distance on board ship ; it is kept in good health 

 with minnows from the refrigerator ; it is liberated 

 at a chosen point ; and then its return to the nest 

 is watched for. The most important result is that 

 these terns are able to return from Galveston, more 

 than 800 miles away, over a great tract of open sea. 

 Some returned in about six days, some took nearly 

 twelve, some did not return at all. Many of the 

 return journeys from distances greater than 500 

 miles did not require more than three to five days, 

 but sometimes as long a time was required to come 

 from Key West to Bird Key, which is only about 

 65 miles. 



Two Noddies and two Sooties were taken in the 

 state-room of a steamer to Havana, and liberated 

 in the harbour there early on a July morning. 

 They returned to Bird Key (108 miles off) next day, 

 having probably spent most of the time resting and 

 feeding around the shores of Cuba. Five birds were 

 taken as far north as Cape Hatteras ; three returned 

 in a few days, having accomplished a journey of 850 

 miles as the crow flies, and of much more if the 

 alongshore route was followed. Four Noddies and 

 four Sooties were taken in a hooded cage on a 

 Galveston steamer to about 461 statute miles from 

 Bird Key and liberated where no shore line was 

 visible. " On release all birds with one exception 

 started east. That one headed west and continued 



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