Recently published Ornithological Works. 541 
56. Chapman on the Booby and Man-of-War Birds. 
[A Contribution to the Life-histories of the Booby ( Sula leucogastra) 
and the Man-of-War Bird ( Fregata aquilct). By Frank M. Chapman. 
Extr. from Publ. 103, Carnegie Inst, of Washington, pp. 139-151 (1908).] 
Mr. Chapman left Nassau, Bahamas, on March 31st, 1907, 
by the f Physalia/ for Cay Yerde, about 230 miles to the 
south-east, in order to procure “ specimens, accessories, 
photographs and other data ” to be used in preparing 
“ habitat groups ” of the Booby and Man-of-War Bird for the 
American Museum of Natural History at New York. 
Owing to unforeseen delays only three days and nights could 
be passed on Cay Yerde; but so little has yet been recorded 
of the breeding-habits in the Bahamas of the two birds in 
question that it was thought that what was observed, even 
in this short period, would be worthy of description. 
After an account of the exact situation and size of the 
little Cay, which lies on the eastern edge of the Columbus 
Bank, thirty miles east of Little Bagged Island, the author 
describes its bird-life, which consists mainly of numerous 
migrants on passage. No Land-birds appear to be resident. 
He then proceeds to his main subject—the Boobies and the 
Frigate-birds. It was estimated that about 1500 pairs of 
the former species and from 200 to 300 of the latter were 
nesting on Cay Yerde. Of both the species most of the 
nests contained half-grown young, but none held fresh eggs, 
while a few birds of the year were already on the wing. The 
eggs of the Boobies were deposited in slight hollows on the 
ground, without any attempt at a nest, but the Man-of-War 
Birds placed their slight nests, made of twigs and sticks, in 
the tops of the sea-grapes at a height of six or seven feet, or 
among the cactuses within two feet of the earth. 
The paper is well illustrated by photographs. It is pointed 
out that Cay Yerde from its position and isolation would be 
an “ admirable station” for the study of the migration of 
birds in that part of the world. To this we heartily agree 
and may add that there is still much to be done by an active 
ornithologist in the Bahamas, where the winter-climate is 
perfect and to which access is easy. 
