LIFE HISTOEIES OF NORTH AMERICAN PETRELS AND PELICANS. 211 



like it were seen. Apparently the immature plumage is worn for 

 at least a year; but nothing further seems to be known about the 

 molts and plumages of this species. 



Nothing more seems to have been published regarding its life 

 history and probably not much more is known. It probably does 

 not differ materially from other boobies in its habits. 



DISTRIBUTION. 



Breeding range. — Islands off the Central American coasts, from 

 the head of the Gulf of California (San Pedro Martir and Georges 

 Islands) south to Costa Rica (Cocos Island). 



Winter range. — Practically the same as the breeding range, but 

 including the Galapagos Islands. 



Egg dates. — Mexican islands: Twenty-one records, March 7 to 

 May 18; eleven records, April 1 to May 1. 



SULA PISCATOR (Linnaeus). 

 RED-FOOTED BOOBY, 



HABITS. 



This is another widely distributed species on the tropical coasts 

 and islands of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, which is 

 perhaps even better known than the common booby. As an Ameri- 

 can bird its status is rather unsatisfactory and it seems to have a 

 very slim claim to a place on our fauna. It undoubtedly occurs 

 occasionally, perhaps more often than we suppose, on the coasts of 

 Florida, but the only specimen from that region, so far as I know, 

 is one of somewhat doubtful status presented by Audubon to the 

 Philadelphia Academy. This is an immature bird in variegated 

 plumage; it may not be this species at all; moreover there is con- 

 siderable doubt as to its having been taken in Florida. 



Nesting. — Dr. Walter K. Fisher (1906) has giA^en a good account 

 of the breeding habits of the red-footed booby in Laysan Island, 

 from which I quote, as follows : 



Unlike its relative, the masked gannet, this species always builds in bushes, 

 never on the ground. At Laysan it is found) in' colonies of scattered indi- 

 viduals on the inner slopes of the island, usually well down toward the lagoon. 

 The nest is simple, scarcely more than a slightly hollowed platform composed 

 of twigs and sticks of chenopodium, on the tops of which the structure is 

 usually placed. In the newer nests a few leaves are scattered under the egg. 

 These leaves were a rude index to the age of the ^g^, for when dry and crisp 

 the bird had been sitting some time, but when fresh, as was frequently the 

 case, the egg was only newly laid. 



Both male and female sit on the eggs, and occasionally one is seen perched 

 on the side of the nest while the other is brooding. The birds are rather loath 

 to leave their egg, and when disturbed ruffle their feathers and utter a 



