NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS. 



57 



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. Sula cyanops. 



Range. Widely distributed in the tropical seas, north casually to Florida 

 and breeding in the Bahamas. 



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 heavily 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. Collector, A. W. Anthony. 



I 14.1. Blue-footed Booby. Sula nebouxii. 



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. 



I 15. Booby. Sula sula. 



Range. Tropical coasts and islands of the Atlantic; north casually 

 Georgia. 



The common Booby is an abundant bird on some of the islands of the 

 Bahamas and Bermudas; it is commonly called the Brown Booby because the 

 upper parts are of a brownish gray. These birds, as do the other Gannets, have 

 great powers of flight and without apparent effort dart about with the speed of 



an arrow. They are quite awkward 

 upon their feet and are not very 

 proficient swimmers. They rarely 

 rest upon the water except when 

 tired hundreds and sometimes 

 thousands of them breed in 

 company, laying their eggs upon 

 the bare rocks. Sometimes a few 

 sticks or grasses will be placed 

 about the bird to prevent the eggs 

 from rolling away. They generally 

 lay two eggs, chalky white and nest 

 stained. Size 2.40x1.60. Data. 

 Key Verd, Bahamas, April 14, 1891. 

 No nest; two eggs laid on the bare 

 [Chalky bluish white, nest stained.] rocks. 



