4 
Annual Reports of Academy of 
sight, when the last small remnant of the flock left us, disappearing in 
the direction of Cape San Antonio, the westernmost extremity of 
C'uba. Very little bird life was observed in the Gulf, a single 
White Pelican and a Parasitic Jaeger completing the list. Upon 
entering the Straits of Yucatan a small flock of swallows greeted 
us by passing close to the ship, the forerunners of many species 
to be seen before we passed through the Carribean; and hrigate 
Birds, whose graceful flight one never tires of watching, Yellow¬ 
billed Tropic Birds, and dusky colored Boobies in pairs, whose 
tandem flight was both swift and graceful. 
In the Gulf Stream flying-fish were plentiful, their gauzy fins 
glistening in the sunlight as they arose in schools close by. Much 
of our time was spent in the bow of the ship, figuring their speed 
as they “volplaned” into the wind. This we determined was at 
about 15 miles per hour, or a little faster; their “flights’' were 
from a few feet to as much as 125 or 150 yards. The fins were not 
moved in flight but were kept rigid, and the longest distances were 
obtained when flying directly into the wind. Occasionally, when 
the flight of a fish was nearly spent, it would strike its tail upon the 
water, thus elevating its body and continue for a considerable 
distance further. One of these flying-fish came aboard during the 
night and we preserved it in formaldehyde. 
At nine P.M., March 7, we dropped anchor, one and one-half 
miles off Bluefields, too late for the pilot to come out that day. 
Six o’clock the next morning found the pilot clambering up the rope 
ladder and at seven we were alongside the Customs Dock at the 
Bluffs. Captain Moore introduced us to Mr. Crompton, in charge 
of Customs, who had our baggage and equipment passed without 
the formality of opening. Our thanks and appreciation are due 
Mr. Crompton, Mr. Le Franc, Mr. Arnaldo Papi, the many Customs’ 
officials, and the representatives of the Nicaraguan Government. 
Seven miles across the lagoon from the Bluff is Bluefields, the 
largest town on the Atlantic side of Nicaragua; attractive from 
the waterfront, but decidedly disappointing when one moves about 
the grass grown streets lined with nondescript buildings generally 
roofed with corrugated iron. What the town lacked in beauty 
it more than made up in hospitality, comfortable quarters, and 
excellent food. The next three days were spent collecting birds in 
the bush back of Bluefields where we took a number of species that 
