GANNETS Family Sulidse 

 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 \vith 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 (2.50x1.70). 



Range. Breeds north to the Bahamas and the Gulf 

 of California; sometimes strays to Florida. 



