THE BIRD BOOK 



GANNETS. Family SULIDAE 



Gannets are large stoutly built birds, having the four toes joined by a web; 

 they have a small naked pouch beneath the bill; the bill is a little longer than 

 the head, and the tail is quite short. The plumage of the adults is generally 

 white, that of the young grayish. 



114. Blue-faced Booby. Sulci syanops. 



Range. — Widely distributed in the tropical seas, 

 north casually to Florida and breeding in the Ba- 

 hamas. 



Like the rest of the Gannets, this one is stupid 

 and will often remain on the nest until removed 

 with the hand, merely hissing at the intruder. 

 Often they lay their eggs on the bare ground, but 

 sometimes the nest is lined with seaweed or grass. 

 They lay either one or two eggs early in April. 

 These eggs are of a dull white color and are heav- 

 ily covered with a chalky deposit. Size 2.50 x 1.70. 

 Data. — Clarion Is., Mexico, May 24, 1897. Nest 

 a mere hollow in the sand near the beach. Col- 

 lector, A. W. Anthony. 



114.1. Blue-footed Booby. Sula nebouxi. 



Range. — Pacific coasts and islands from the 

 Gulf of California southward to Chili. 



These birds nest in numbers on the island of 

 San Pedro Martir in the Gulf of California. They 

 lay but a single egg, placing it upon the bare 

 rock. Their breeding season extends from the 

 latter part of March into May. The egg is a dull 

 white, generally nest stained and is covered with 

 the usual chalky deposit. Size 2.35 x 1.60. Data. 

 — Clarion Island, Mexico, May 21, 1897. Two eggs 

 in a hollow in the sand near the beach. Collector, 

 A. W. Anthony. 



•faced Booby 



Blue-footed Booby 



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