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 powerof flight, 

 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 the 3 r ouug 

 Man-o'-War Birds and young Boobies, for example, in 

 which wing-feathers of the second plumage are just evident, 

 shows that while the former has the whole interscapular re- 

 gion black, some of the feathers being 3.75 inches in length, 

 the Booby shows as yet no signs of second plumage iu tbis 

 region. 



Not only are the wing feathers in Fregata late in appear- 

 ing, but the secondaries precede the primaries, the former 

 averaging two inches in length, with the greater and median 

 coverts showing, when the latter is just observable. 



Our work finished, we returned to the "Physalia" late 

 on the afternoon of April 12, the change in wind since our 

 landing making it necessary to re-embark from the southern 

 side of the Cay, and at 3 p. m v on the 13th, we reached our 

 old anchorage between the Ragged 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 Nassau, 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 pennitting 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 



