GANNETS—Family Silide 
BLUE-FACED BOOBY 
114. Sula cyanops. 28 in. 
Bill, face and naked throat pouch, slaty-blue; eye 
yellow; feet reddish. Plumage white except the pri- 
maries, secondaries and other tail feathers, which are 
black. Young birds are streaked above with gray and 
brownish, and are dull white below. Boobies are birds 
of wide distribution in the Tropics, this species being 
rarely seen in southern Florida, but quite abundant on 
some of the West Indian islands. Owing to the numer- 
ous air cells beneath their skin, they are very buoyant 
and can ride the waves with ease during severe storms. 
They secure their prey, which is chiefly fish, by plung- 
ing after it. 
Nest.—Their one or two eggs are laid usually upon 
the bare ground on low islands, or sometimes in weed- 
lined hollows. The eggs are pure white, covered with 
a thick chalky deposit (2.50x 1.70). 
Range.—Breeds north to the Bahamas and the Gulf 
of Califernia; sometimes strays to Flcrida. 
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