508 BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



measured 2-^^ inclies by l-j^ ; the smallest 2^^! t)y l-oS and 

 one of average size, 2J by If inches. Both sexes incubate, 

 and the birds while sitting on their eggs allowed of a very 

 near approach, and before flying off" disgorged the contents of 

 their stomachs, chiefly a species of Cliipea. I need scarcely 

 add that their bite is very severe. During our visit to Darn- 

 ley Island I observed several tame Boobies among the native 

 villages, generally perched on the canoes hauled up on the 

 beach. These birds were allowed their full liberty, and after 

 fishing in the weirs upon the reefs until they had procured a 

 sufficiency of food returned to the huts." 



The plumage of the two sexes is so precisely similar that it 

 is utterly impossible to distinguish them by external observa- 

 tion ; it is true that the colouring of the feet, face, and other 

 soft parts is not always alike, but this difference I believe to 

 be the result of age, rather than of a difference in sex ; and if 

 this opinion be correct, the bright yellow-coloured feet are in- 

 dicative of the bird being fully adult, and the olive-brown of 

 its being immature. 



In its habits, manners, mode of life, and in the nature of 

 its food, this species resembles the other members of the 

 genus. 



Head, neck, breast, all the upper surface, wings, and tail 

 dark chocolate-brown ; under surface pure white, separated 

 from the brown of the breast by a sharply defined line ; irides 

 very pale yellow ; bill and orbits primrose-yellow, blotched 

 before and beneath the eye with bluish ; eyelash light ash- 

 grey ; legs and feet pale yellow. 



