JS95. PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 531 



(dichromatism). The white form is twice or thrice as numerous as 

 the blue; many of the bhie ones have white heads or white heads and 

 necks. The Creoles say that the blue ones are the females, and the 

 blue ones obtained were all females, but I have shot white females. 

 Most eonimonly a white aud a blue bird were paired, sometimes l)()th 

 were white, but in no case were two blue ones mated. They were 

 breeding- in large numbers in December, building their loose platforms 

 of sticks among the nuingroves, and laying from two to four eggs. 



"At low tide this and other species of herous, with curlews aud sand- 

 pipers, feed upon the fringing reef in thousands; then as the tide rises 

 the whole crowd fly over into the lagoon, where the tide is one or two 

 hours later, and contiuue feeding there until the water becomes too 

 deep." (Abbott, MS.) 



21. BUTORIDES ATRICAPILLUS (Afzelius). 



One specimen, October 19. 



"Creole name, ^La gasse^ or '■Maneeh.^ Quite common; breeding 

 among the mangroves in November aud December, laying two eggs. 

 Both this aud the egrets are very tame and come around the camp and 

 turtle slaughtering place to pick up scraps. They are extremely fond 

 of bluebottle tiies, which swarm upon the backs aud heads of the turtles 

 when on shore. They stand by hours upon the turtle's back, darting- 

 out their beaks with unerring aim upon the blood-sucking flies." 

 (Abbott, MS.) 



22. BUBULCUS BUBULCUS (Savigny). 



"Apparently the 'bufl'alo bird' of Africa. Only one noticed in Alda- 

 bra. It lived most of the time in the pens with the goats and pigs. 

 Very plentiful iu Coetivy and the Amirantes. Creole name, Madame 

 Patou:^ (Abbott, MS.) 



Family SULID^. 



23. SULA PISCATOR (Linnaeus). 



One specimen, October 20. 



"Creole name, ''Fou hcte.'' Very abundant, probably from fifty to 

 one hundred thousand individuals of this species make their homes in 

 Aldabra. It is common also iu Gloriosa and the Amirantes. Formerly 

 it was found upon every island of these seas, but is now exterminated 

 upon many of them. 



"At the time of my visit to Gloriosa Island, in the latter part of 

 January, they were building their nests and some already had eggs. 

 The nest is built in 'Fouche' trees at the height of from 15 to 20 feet 

 from the ground. They were by far the commonest booby upon the 

 island. Upon the neighboring He de Lise ' Generaux^ or Siila cyanops 

 bred in considerable numbers. 



"The boobies lead a hard life of it from the persecution of the frig- 

 ate birds. These circle around iu thousands during the day, awaiting 



