PREFACE. 
The Bahama Islands have, of late years, become such a popular 
resort, and so many people visit them every winter for the enjoy- 
ment of the dolce far niente life and magnificent climate always 
found in those semi-tropical regions, that I have been induced to 
publish the present volume, with the hope of being able to throw 
some light upon a subject in which most travellers, as well as 
scientists, are interested, viz., the many species of birds which 
are resident or occasional visitants to those islands, about which, at 
present, so very little is known. I shall commence with a short 
account of my personal experiences while cruising among the 
islands, in order to give some idea of the nature and customs of 
the country, and the best localities for the ornithologist and sports- 
man to visit. 
Part II. will be devoted to ornithology, giving a list of the 
species found on the islands, with notes regarding their habits, 
migrations, etc. 
In the descriptions of the birds, I have endeavored to point 
out the characters by which allied species may most easily be dis- 
