. Bird-lore . the greatmajority of those Isaw (between twoand three hundred)were placed in vari-ous sites on lowislands. Some werein plain view onwide ledges of rock,while others were atthe end of longwinding tunnels. Onone of the islandsof Castle Harbor, Ifound them in thedeep grass and alsounder small cedar-bushes. The birdsare about the sizeof Pigeons, and itseems curious that abird with so long atail should selectso seemingly uncom-fortable a nesting-place, for in every case the long tail-feathers were forced forward over thebirds back, due to the snugness of the nests. These two feathers
. Bird-lore . the greatmajority of those Isaw (between twoand three hundred)were placed in vari-ous sites on lowislands. Some werein plain view onwide ledges of rock,while others were atthe end of longwinding tunnels. Onone of the islandsof Castle Harbor, Ifound them in thedeep grass and alsounder small cedar-bushes. The birdsare about the sizeof Pigeons, and itseems curious that abird with so long atail should selectso seemingly uncom-fortable a nesting-place, for in every case the long tail-feathers were forced forward over thebirds back, due to the snugness of the nests. These two feathers are thecentral ones of the twelve forming the tail, and the longer usually averagesseventeen or eighteen inches in length. Sometimes they are longer, and Ihave seen several that were but little less than twenty-two inches. They dropout easily after attaining full growth, and often are seen ornamenting theotherwise perfectly bare nests. During the month of May, I found the birds in all stages of breeding. Some. VELLOW-BILLED TROPIC BIRDS BROODING YOUNG The Tropic-Birds of Bermuda 347 liad just started to la>, wliilc others had nouii.^ birds two weeks ohl. They hiybut unv ejjjg, about two and a ((uarter inches long and rather broad. It is of a])ecuiiar Ht^ht purpHsh color, with profuse chocolate-brown spots, especially atthe larger end. The time of incubation is twenty-eight days, as proved by afresh egg hatched in an incubator. The young bird is covered with long whitedown, with dark-colored l^are skin between llie eyes oxer the bill, which isyellowish. The old birds seem perfectly fearless while on their nests, and make noattempt to leave them. I took advantage of this and made two paintings andseveral sketches from birds on their nests. The two birds which I used as sub-jects had recently hatched their tygs and were most satisfactory models—
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Keywords: ., boo, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectbirdsperiodicals
