;9s 



THE BOOBT 



the water, dropping almost like a stone. Their eye in this act is so 

 coriect, that they never fail to rise with a fish in tlieir mouth. 



Mr. Peauant says, that the natives of Saint Kilda hold these birds 

 in much estimation, and o'^ten uinlergo the greatest risks to obtain 

 them. WHiere it is possible, they climb up the rocks which they 

 frequent, and in doing this they pass along paths so narrow and 

 dilhcult, as, in appearance, to allow them barely room to cling, and 

 that too at an amazing height over a raging sea. Where this cannot 

 be done, the fowler is lowered by a rope from the top; and, to tako 

 the young-ones, oftentimes stations himself on the most dangerous 

 ledges. LTnterrified, however, he ransacks all the nests within his 

 reach ; and then, by means of a pole and his rope, he moves off to 

 other places to do the same. 



We are tohl also, that to take the old birds, the inhabitants tie a 

 Ilerring to a board, and set it afloat ; so that, by falling furiously 

 upon it, the bird may break its neck in the attempt. 



THE BOOBY. 



Tliis and some other species have been denominated Boobies from 

 their excessive stu- 

 pidity ; their silly 

 aspect ; and their 

 habit of continually 

 shaking their head 

 and shivering, when 

 they alight on t he 

 yards or rigging of 

 vessels, where they 

 often sulVer the ni- 

 sei ves to be taken 

 with the hand. 1 n 

 their shape and or- 

 ganization they 

 greatly resemble the 

 Corvorants. 



The Boobies have 

 an enemy of their 

 own tribe, that per- 

 petually harasses 

 them. This is the 

 Frigate I* e 1 i c a n ; 

 which rushes upon 

 them, pursues them 

 without intermission, 

 and obliges them by 



blows with its wing rnEBoouT 



and bill, to surrender 

 lb*} prey that they have taken, which it instantly seizes and swallows. 



