ig2 
BIRDS OF THE BAHAMA ISLANDS. 
it is entirely washed by the waves. It can only be approached at 
one spot, and that only at calm weather. At the time of my visit, 
it was literally covered with Boobies, mostly young ones. Of these, 
by far the greater part were fully fledged, and could fly with ease, 
but were still dependent on the parent birds for food. They kept 
by themselves, and were perched upon the rocks all around the edge 
of the key. The younger birds were sprinkled all over the key, 
wherever there was room for them, and of all ages, from those almost 
able to fly, to young ones but that moment hatched. I found the 
eggs of some twenty pairs, most of them on the point of hatching. 
The number in every case was two, though only one is usually 
attributed to them. In appearance, they resemble those of the 
family generally, being greenish, covered with a chalky substance ; 
in size they vary considerably, as also in form. The most elongated 
one measured 0.67 in length by 0.38 in breadth, and the broadest 
0.55 by 0.40, the others varying between these two extremes, but 
averaging more nearly the latter. The young', when first hatched, 
are entirely naked, and of a livid blue color. They soon become 
covered with a white down, then the quills and tail-feathers make 
their appearance, of a cinereous brownish color, then the feathers 
of the body, neck, and head, and, lastly, of the throat. 
“ On our landing, some of the old birds flew off, but by far the 
greater number remained, and did not trouble themselves to get 
out of our way, but on being approached too near, darted at us 
with their powerful bills in a most savage manner. They seemed 
to be very quarrelsome in their disposition, continually striking at 
