BOOBY AND MAN-O'-WAR BIRD 221 



mantle, as may be seen in the photographs of young birds in 

 the nest. 



It is surprising that in a bird famed for its power of night, 

 and possessed of exceptional length of wing and tail, the 

 feathers of these parts, contrary to the general rule, should 

 not take the lead in development. Comparison of tne young 

 Man-o 7 -War .birds and young i^oouies, for example, in 

 which wmg-featJiers of the second plumage are just evident, 

 snows that while the former has tne whole mterscapular re- 

 gion black, some of the feathers being d.Yo incnes in lengtn, 

 me .booby snows as yet no signs of second plumage in this 

 region. 



iNot only are the wing feathers in Fregata late in appear- 

 ing, but tne secondaries precede the primaries, tne former 

 averaging two inches in length, witn tne greater and median 

 coverts snowing, when the latter is just observable. 



Our work imished, we returned to the "Jfhysalia" late 

 on tne afternoon of April i^, tiie change in wind since our 

 landing making it necessary to re-embark from tne southern 

 side of the (Jay, ana at 6 p. M V on tne 13th, we reached our 

 old anchorage between tne Kagged islands. 



April 13, we replenished our supply of fresh water from 

 a well or seepage-hole within a few yards of the sea, and on 

 the 14th headed for JM assau, but after making eighteen 

 miles, strong head winds forced us to seek shelter and 

 anchor. 



April 15, we had made only three miles, when the heavy 

 north wind obliged us to anchor under Nurse Key on which 

 we passed the day. At midnight the wind hauled to the east- 

 ward, giving us a lee and permitting us to lay our course. 

 At 6 P. M., on the 16th, we were abreast of Harvey Cay after 

 our only good day's run since leaving Miami, and the ba- 

 rometer promising settled weather, under the advice of the 

 pilot, but against the judgment of our commander, we decid- 

 ed to sail through the night. 



The wind held fair but doubtless a tidal current setting 



