A STRANGE EXCEPTION. 39 



just one of those strange mysteries, probably quite simple 

 of explanation in reality, but which at present we cannot 

 solve. All we can say, from a personal and purely human 

 experience of the conditions found there, is that there 

 seems no reason in the least apparent why they should 

 not be. But then we might just as well quarrel with the 

 fact that orchids (one of which — SchomburgMa thomp- 

 soniana — is quite peculiar) are found in abundance on the 

 Caymans, while there are none on Swan Island. 



After an early breakfast, on the morning following our 

 arrival, we immediately turned our attention to exploring 

 the western island. This island is about two miles long, 

 with an average breadth of half a mile. It looks simply 

 made for birds. Thick woods alternate with open clear- 

 ings, which are either given up to the various crops and 

 fruit trees grown b}^ the islanders, or towards the eastern 

 end of the island indicate areas from which phosphates 

 were once dug. We found plenty of birds in these 

 clearings — ^nearly always the best places to look for them — 

 but most of them were winter residents only. 



When we first made the acquaintance of tropical 

 islands, and were new to the task of quickly getting a 

 comprehensive idea of their bird Hfe, I remember we did 

 not sufficiently reaUze this. Perhaps there are others 

 who, equally inexperienced, would find the same difficulty. 

 Birds are flying about everywhere — ^at least in the open 

 spaces — and one is very apt to gain a false impression 

 of what the islands can fairly lay claim to as their very 

 own. The number of species, for instance, which Mr. 

 ToAvnsend and I between us have found, beyond any 

 question of doubt, upon Swan Island amounts to thirty- 

 nine. From information which I received from the 

 islanders, there seems to be no question that at least ten 

 other species are sometimes met with. Probably many 

 more than this occasionally wander here, or pass through 

 on migration. At any rate, one could fairly put the grand 

 total, without straining things in the least, at something 

 over fifty. 



