COLUMBIAN BOOBY 



common species in the West Indies and may 

 often be seen within a short distance of Colon. 

 On the Pacific side of the Isthmus, it is replaced 

 by the next species, Sula etesiaca. 

 



5. Sula etesiaca Bangs 



Colombian Booby 



Male. Length about 760 mm. (30.00 in.); 

 tail 195 mm. (7.70 in.). Head and throat hoary 

 gray, becoming lighter on the forehead and face, 

 and shading into brown on the back and chest. 

 Rest of under parts white. 



Female. Length about 800 mm. (31.50 in.); 

 tail 205 mm. (8.10 in.). Almost indistinguish- 

 able from Sula leucogastra. In immature plum- 

 age the white of the breast is mixed with brown. 



We discovered this booby, which is found only 

 on the Pacific side, nesting in considerable num- 

 bers on the island of Galera. The nests were on 

 the ground, which was whitened and bare 'from 

 the droppings of the birds, among gaunt leafless 

 trees. Many birds were flapping back and 

 forth, while higher overhead innumerable hordes, 

 including S. nebouxii, frigate birds and a couple 

 of hawks, circled over the island. The roar of 

 the surf on the reef-bound, rocky cliffs and the 

 raucous cries of the birds combined to make it 

 a wild and tumultuous scene set in the weird, 

 pale greenish light of the grove. We noted a. 

 male and female sitting on adjacent nests; several 

 solitary chicks covered with white down were 

 walking about; one came toward us with a wide. 



