32 PEOCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM tol. 79 



SULA VARIEGATA (Tschudi) 



Peruvian booby 



Dysporus variegatus Tschudi, Arch. Naturg., 1843, p. 390. (" In littoribus 

 et insulis Oceani pacific!. ") 



A female in adult plumage was obtained on Tower Island in the 

 Galapagos Archipelago June 14, 1929. 



This species, first seen at Tower Island, was found later to be 

 quite common about Indefatigable, Daphne, Chatham, and Hood 

 Islands. It is a fine-appearing bird and suggests the gannet more 

 than the booby type. 



NANNOPTERUM HARRISI (Rothschild) 



Flightless cormorant 



PhaUicrocorax harrisi Rothschild, Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, vol. 7, May 25, 

 1898, p. lii. (Narborough Island, Galapagos Archipelago.) 



Two males and three females were obtained at Narborough Island 

 in the Galapagos August 25, 1929, two being preserved as skeletons 

 and the others as skins. Doctor Fisher found that two males weighed 

 9 pounds each, and two females 6 pounds each, a surprising sexual 

 difference in bulk. 



Two sets of two eggs each were obtained by Mr. Pinchot on the 

 same date from rather large nests made compactly of seaweed. One 

 had been abandoned. The eggs are pale glaucous-blue, this color 

 being entirely concealed and covered by a chalky-white deposit over 

 the entire shell, so that the underlying color may be seen only by 

 chipping this cover layer away. The eggs are much nest-stained. 

 The two sets measure as follows : 65.1 by 41.8 and 69.4 by 41.2 ; 65.9 

 by 42.5 and 70.2 by 42.7 mm. These figures agree with those given 

 by Rothschild and Hartert.'* 



On August 25 after crossing in the launch from Tagus Cove, Albe- 

 marle Island, to Narborough Island, we almost immediately ran 

 across five of these cormorants on a rocky point some 8 feet above 

 the water. After photographs were taken, specimens were secured. 

 The birds are very tame and seem little affected by approach either 

 on land or on the water. As we scouted along shore quite a number 

 were seen both on the rocks and in the water. "\^^en moving they 

 jump with both feet together and body erect much as a small child 

 will do while descending steps. They are expert swimmers, and 

 often hunt or follow their prey for 50 yards or more under water 

 before coming to the surface. 



When we returned to Tagus Cove anchorage, a number of pairs 

 were found breeding on a low shelf of rock. The nests were com- 



" Nov. Zool., vol. 9, July, 1902, p. 409. 



