Tropic-birds in Bermuda. 559 



it. In some of these tunnels I found nests of the Shear- 

 water, about six or seven in total number. My guide 

 quaintly called them the " dusty-sheah-watahs/^ and seemed 

 to think them vastly more attractive than the lovely Tropic- 

 birds, probably because of their rarity. The few nests found 

 of the Shearwater we supposed to be the only ones in 

 Bermuda, and diligent search on the neighbouring islands 

 failed to reveal any more. The Shearwater is more active 

 at dusk, when its uncanny cries are heard over the outer 

 islands. It is about the same size as the Tropic-bii'd, but in 

 appearance very different. It has a short tail and a hooked 

 beak, the nostrils placed in a double tube. The plumage is 

 sooty-brown above and white beneath ; the feet are webbed 

 and black and white in colour. 



In each of these nests, together with the half-grown young 

 birds, I found a white eg^, but these were all cracked and 

 spoiled. They were about tlie same size as those of the 

 Tropic-bird, but narrower. The young Shearwaters are of 

 a smoky-grey with whitish underparts. They would try to 

 peck me when I touched them, but their strenuous efforts 

 failed to even pinch. 



Several years ago a foreign millinery concern offered 

 prices for heads, wings, and tails of Tropic-birds, but they 

 are now protected, and certainly do add to the attractiveness 

 of Bermuda, of which they are so striking a feature. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATES. 



Plate XXI. Phaethon americanus brooding on nest, her mate about to 

 relieve her. From a sketch made by the author at 

 Beruiuda. 

 XXII. Phaethon americanus^. Photograph of female and young 

 bird on Morgan's Island. Bermuda, May 1913. 



XXIII. Fig. 1. Phaethon americanus. Photograph of a young 



bird about 10 days old. Nonsuch Island, Bermuda, 

 June 1913. 

 Fig. 2. Egg and nest of Phaethon americanus on Morgan's 

 Island, Bermuda, May 1913. 



XXIV. Fig. 1. Nesting site of Phaethon americanus on Nonsuch 



Island, Bermuda, showing a bird in flight. May 1913. 

 Fig. 2. Limestone cliffs on Somerset, Bermuda ; the 

 Tropic-birds nest in holes in these cliffs. 



O p 9 



