BIRD ROOKERIES OF TORTUGAS — BARTSCH. 495 



Their principal enemies during the breeding-season are the American Crow 

 and the Fish Crow, both of which destroy their eggs, and the Turkey Buzzard 

 which devours their young while yet unfledged. They breed during the month 

 of May, but I have not been able to ascertain if they raise more than one brood 

 in the season. The adult birds chase away those which are yet immature dur- 

 ing the period of incubation. It would seem that they take several years in 

 attaining their perfect state. 



When procured alive, they feed freely, and may be kept any length of time, 

 provided they are supplied with fish. No other food, however, could I tempt 

 them to swallow, excepting slices of turtle, which after all they did not seem to 

 relish. In no instance did I observe one drinking. Some authors have stated 

 that the Frigate Pelican and the Lestris force the Booby to disgorge its food 

 that they may obtain it; but this I have never witnessed. Like the Common 

 Gannet, they may be secured by fastening a fish to a soft plank, and sinking it a 

 few feet beneath the surface of the water, for if they perceive the bait, which 

 they are likely to do if they pass over it, they plunge headlong upon it, and 

 drive their bill into the wood. 



When a Booby has alighted on the spar of a vessel, it is no easy matter to 

 catch it, unless it is much fatigued ; but if exhausted and asleep, an expert 

 seaman may occasionally secure one. I was informed that after the breeding 

 season these birds roost on trees in company with the Brown Pelican and a spe- 

 cies of Tern, Sterna stolida, and spend their hours of daily rest on the sand- 

 banks. Our pilot, who, as I have mentioned in my second volume, was a man 

 of great observation, assured me that while at Vera Cruz, he saw the fishermen 

 there go to sea, and return from considerable distances, simply by following the 

 course of the Boobies. 



The bills and legs of those which I procured in the brown plumage, and 

 which were from one to two years of age, were dusky blue. These were under- 

 going moult on the 14th of May. At a more advanced age, the parts mentioned 

 become paler, and when the bird has arrived at maturity, are as represented in 

 my plate. I observed no external difference between the sexes in the adult 

 birds. The stomach is a long dilatable pouch, thin, and of a yellow colour. 

 The body is muscular, and the flesh, which is of a dark colour, tough, and hav- 

 ing a disagreeable smell, is scarcely fit for food. 



I am unable to find a. good reason for those who have chosen to call these 

 birds boobies. Authors, it is true, generally represent them as extremely 

 stupid; but to me the word is utterly inapplicable to any bird with which I am 

 acquainted. The Woodcock, too, is said to be stupid as are many other birds ; 

 but my opinion, founded on pretty extensive observation, is, that it is only when 

 birds of any species are unacquainted with man, that they manifest that kind 

 of ignorance or innocence which he calls stupidity, and by which they suffer 

 themselves to be imposed upon. A little acquaintance with him soon enables 

 them to perceive enough of his character to induce them to keep aloof. This 

 I observed in the Booby Gannet, as well as in the Noddy Tern, and in certain 

 species of land birds of which I have already spoken. After my first visit to 

 Booby Island in the Tortugas, the Gannets had already become very shy and 

 wary, and before the Marion sailed away from those peaceful retreats of the 

 wandering sea-birds, the Boobies had become so knowing, that the most ex- 

 pert of our party could not get within shot of them. 



The Tortugas are used as a stepping-stone by many of the lesser 

 migratory birds that winter in the West Indies and even farther 

 south. In the northward journey in spring and the southward flight 



