HOMING OF SEA-SWALLOWS 3 
long a time was required to come from Key West 
to Bird Key, which is only about 65 miles. It 
goes without saying that the time required has 
nothing to do with the rate of flight, for three 
Sooties returned from Key West in 3 hours 45 
minutes, and probably spent part of that time on 
the feeding ground before reporting themselves 
at the nests. The success of the homing depends 
partly on the vigor of the birds and partly on 
the smiles of fortune, as expressed, for instance, 
in a spell of fine weather and the absence of 
hawks. 
It is instructive to give particulars in regard to 
some of the experiments. Two Noddies and two 
Sooties were taken in the stateroom of a steamer to 
Havana, and liberated in the harbor there early 
in the morning of 11th July. They returned to 
Bird Key (108 miles off) next day, having prob- 
ably spent most of the time recuperating around the 
shores of Cuba. Of five birds liberated off Cape 
Hatteras at least 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 for about 
200 yards, then turned suddenly and started east.” 
They had a strong head wind against them through- 
