THK PLANT WORLD 267 



Easily recognized by its bright orange-yellow legs. Several specimens 

 were shot by Lieutenant Carpenter in the winter. 



Anas oustaleti. Marianne Wild Duck. 



Vernacular name, Ngadnga, or Ngadnga palau. — A duck frequenting 

 the fresh -water swamps of the island. It is peculiar to the island, and 

 resembles Anas superciliaris of Samoa and A. wyvilliana of Hawaii. It 

 is very highly esteemed for food. Several were shot for the ofiBcers' 

 mess by Lieutenant Carpenter. 



Gygis alba kittlitzi. White Tern. 



Vernacular name, C/iiingi, or Chiinge. — A beautiful snow-white tern 

 which lays its &%^ on the bare limb of a tree. It is very common in 

 Guam. The same species occurs in Samoa, where I have seen large 

 flocks among the trees on the shores of Pangopango Bay. 



Anous stolidus. Noddy. 



Vernacular name, Fdhan. — Not uncommon about the cliffs of Orote 

 peninsula. It is a brownish-black bird about 16 inches long, somewhat 

 like a tern ; tail fanshaped, not forked. Often flies about ships at night 

 and sometimes alights on the deck ; widely spread all over the world. 



Anous leucocapillus. White-capped Noddy. 



Vernacular name, Fdhan. — This bird also occurs in Samoa. It has 

 a whitish, or hoary head, with dusky cheeks and black lores. It is 

 smaller than the preceding and is of a sooty-brown color, the upper 

 parts nearly black. 



Sula sula. Booby. Brown Gannet. 



Vernacular name, Luaii. — Common off "Orote peninsula. Pursues 

 flying fishes, often darting and plunging for them from a great height. 

 Often alights on decks of ships, where it sits stolidly, allowing itself to 

 be taken. It is a large, brown, stupid bird; length about two feet and 

 a half. In flying it alternately flaps its wings and then sails, after the 

 manner of pelicans. 



Sula piscatrix. Red-footed Booby. White Gannet. 



I have seen this species at sea near the Island of Guam, but I have 

 not been able to find a vernacular name for it here. It is similar to the 

 common booby in form but is of a general white color, with red feet. 

 When alighting on the deck of a ship it appears stupid, but when on the 

 wing it is most graceful. Its presence is always indicative of shoals of 

 fish swimming near the surface. It pursues them with great swiftness 

 and darts upon them like a bolt, closing its wings just before plunging 

 into the water. It is usually seen in flocks and flies in the same manner 

 as the preceding species. 



Fregata aquila. Frigate Bird. Man-of-war Bird. 



Vernacular name, Payahya. — Not rare, but seldom seen near the shore 

 of this island. Often seen hundreds of miles from shore. It frequently 

 hovers over a ship as though attracted by curiosity. Body and wings 

 very long and .slender, tail long and forked. They delight to soar at 

 great heights, their flight recalling that of an eagle. They never dive, 

 but pick up their food from the surface of the water with a backward 

 motion of their hooked beak. I have the skull of a specimen shot by a 



