Tropic-birds in Bermuda. 553 



as the Storm-Petrels following the boat, failed to dissipate 

 the indifference of the afflicted passengers. 



Bermuda is composed of a few large islands and a great 

 many smaller ones, about 150 in total number; the whole 

 group forms a land-area of but nineteen or twenty square 

 miles. It may be roughly compared to a fish-hook in 

 shape — the part forming the hook lying to the south-west 

 and the other end extending diagonally to the north-east. 



I made my headquarters at three of the principal towns 

 during my quest of the birds. These were St. George's, 

 Hamilton, and Somerset. St. George's, located at the 

 northern end, is a quaint old town, the population being 

 mostly coloured. It was formerly the capital. Hamilton 

 is the present capital, and has the only practical harbour. 

 It is more modern than the other towns, and is situated 

 near the centre of the group. Somerset is a small place 

 near the south-western end. 



It was to Somerset I repaired after tarrying in Hamilton 

 a few days. The shores at Somerset are very rocky and 

 steep. On the morning of my arrival there I saw a flock of 

 ten or twelve Tropic-birds in the air, wheeling in graceful 

 curves and continually uttering their peculiar cries 'of 

 " tik-et, tik-et . . . tik-tik," a chorus of these sounds in 

 varied pitches similar to the noise made by a creaking 

 pulley. Their long tail-feathers are very flexible, and some- 

 times, when making a sudden turn or encountering a stiff 

 breeze, they would bend almost at right angles. Against 

 the blue sky the whiteness of their plumage is dazzling, 

 but when tlie cliffs formed a background their underparts 

 appeared of a beautiful pale green, which was due to the 

 reflection of the bright emerald of the water below them. 



They were frequently seen flying over the small islands in 

 Elie's Harbour, which is at the south-west of Somerset 

 Island; so one morning my companion and I rowed OA'er to 

 the group. We passed the curious and beautiful Cathedral 

 Rocks — a peculiar rock-formation worn into its gothic 

 resemblance by erosion of wind and water. On reaching 

 the islands we found that on the harbour side they sloped 



