AKT. 10 BIEDS OF PINCHOT EXPEDITION FISHER AND WETMOEE 31 



SULA PISCATOR (Linnaeus) 



Red-footed booby 



Pelecanus piscator Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, vol. 1, 1758, p. 134. (Java 

 Seas.) 



A female in immature dress was taken on Cocos Island, June 5, 

 1929, by A, K. Fisher. No attempt is made here to distinguish sub- 

 species in this bird. 



Large numbers of this species in the so-called immature plumage 

 were breeding on the islet Nuez at Cocos Island during the first week 

 in June. If this is the true red-footed species in which the plumage 

 of the adult is mainly creamy-white, with primaries blackish-brown, 

 it is hard to understand why there were not at least a few adult- 

 plumaged birds among the hundreds in immature dress which breed 

 at this point. So far as memory goes, not a bird in adult plumage 

 was seen during our entire stay in that vicinity. The species was 

 often common about the yacht, and a few individuals came aboard 

 at night. 



SULA NEBOUXII Milne-Edwards 



Blue-footed booby 



Sula nebouxii Milne-Edwakds, Ann. Sci. Nat. (Zool.), ser. 6, vol. 13, art. 4, 

 1882, p. 37, pi. 14. (Pacific coast of America — probably Chile.) 



A male was obtained at Indefatigable Island in the Galapagos, 

 June 24, 1929. 



In the Galapagos group this species was seen daily, usually singly, 

 in pairs, or in small groups, never in large masses like the brown 

 and red-footed boobies. One never tires of watching this and 

 other species of the family diving for fish. With wings tightly 

 pressed against the body the birds descend at an angle of 45° like 

 a projectile, often from considerable heights, striking the water 

 with a thud and reappearing at the surface 8 or 10 feet beyond as 

 if following a parabolic curve. One afternoon at Wreck Bay, 

 Chatham Island, five boobies of this species gave a fine exhibition, 

 descending in almost perfect alignment to strike the water and 

 reappear together. After a moment's rest they arose in a half 

 spiral to regain position for another onslaught on their prey. This 

 maneuvering over a rather restricted area was kept up for fully 

 half an hour. 



One of the natives on Chatham Island had a booby which he 

 was carrying home for food, and we understand that these birds 

 are considered quite a delicacy. 



