Vol. xiv.] 68 



u The difference between the colours in the figures given 

 by Mr. Maynard and those of the specimens observed by us 

 is so remarkable, that it seems difficult to believe that his 

 figures were taken from specimens observed in a fresh state. 



"The Gannet Avas not seen on Grand Cayman. Its 

 outward and homeward course from its fishing-grounds lay 

 further out to sea, for the birds nested on Cayman Brae and 

 Little Cayman. A breeding-place was reported on the 

 eastern side of Cayman Brae, but we had no time to visit it. 

 On Little Cayman, to the swamp not far from our anchorage, 

 the Gannets came in large numbers and were found nesting 

 in great abundance. At what time in the morning the birds 

 left for their feeding-grounds out at sea we never discovered, 

 though we were generally astir before daybreak. It would 

 seem that they went off long before, probably in the darkness 

 of the night, after having fed their mates; but the return 

 journey began about 4 p.m., from which time a steady 

 succession of parties of these Gannets flew by. or over, the 

 Yacht, in flocks of from half a dozen to twenty or more. 

 This flight continued till long after dark, and individuals were 

 seen by our Captain, George Herbert, up to 10 p.m. These 

 late arrivals were perhaps the wisest of the colony, as those 

 which came back to the nesting-grounds in the late afternoon 

 were frequently attacked by the Frigate-birds and made to 

 disgorge their fish, which were probably intended for the 

 food of the mate, then patiently sitting on the nest within 

 easy distance. The interior of Little Cayman is an almost 

 impenetrable swamp, but on the sandy shores cocoa-nut 

 groves have been planted by the industrious inhabitants, 

 and the Gannets nest in the morasses of the interior. They 

 exhibited three phases of plumage : pure white with white 

 tails, the fully adult birds ; brown birds with white tails, 

 which I take to be birds of the second year — quite mature 

 and breeding birds, since we found some of these brown 

 birds sitting on the nests ; and, lastly, brown individuals with 

 brown tails, which were doubtless young ones of the preceding 

 season. 



" By landing and lying in wait in the cocoa-nut groves, 



