230 BIRDS OF BRITISH BURMAH. 



Length about 30 inches, tail 8, wing 16'5, tarsus 1'9, bill from gape 4*5. 



The above description is taken from a specimen collected by Mr. Pack- 

 man in Tenasserim and now in the British Museum. It is not quite 

 adult, for when old the upper plumage appears to be a uniform umber- 

 brown without paler edges. 



The Brown Booby occurs along the Tenasserim coast, where it was 

 obtained by Mr. Packman and observed by Mr. Davison. Dr. Jerdon 

 states that it occurs in the Bay of Bengal, and Mr. Hume met with it near 

 some of the islands of the Cocos group. 



It is found in all parts of the world in the tropical seas. 



The Boobies are birds of the ocean, seldom going on shore except to 

 roost at night ; they plunge into the sea to capture their prey ; they follow 

 ships and frequently settle on the rigging, and, from their habit of stretch- 

 ing out their necks and owing to their silly appearance, are termed boobies 

 by sailors. They breed on small islands, a single white chalky egg being 

 laid on the bare soil. 



Mr. Hume has conclusively shown that the name S. fiber, Linn., does 

 not apply to the present species, and he has also suggested that 8. leuco- 

 gastra, Bodd., is probably a small South- American species. 



600. DYSPORUS PISCATOE. 

 THE RED-LEGGED BOOBY. 



Pelecanus piscator, Linn, Syst. Nat. i. p. 217. Sula piscator, Gould, B. Austr. 

 vii. pi. 79 ; Jerd. B. Ind. ii. p. 852 ; Hume, S. F. viii. p. 116. Sula piscatrix, 

 Salvad. Ucc. Born. p. 368 ; Hume, S. F. iv. p. 483, v. p. 312. 



Description. Quills and greater wing-coverts blackish, variegated with 

 silvery grey; tail and the whole plumage white, slightly tinged with 

 yellowish on the head, neck and back. 



The young bird is entirely brown ; the tail and other parts, except the 

 quills and greater coverts, gradually turn to white ; but birds with pure 

 white tails appear to be rare in collections. 



. This species may always be recognized by its red feet. Even in very 

 old skins the feet remain red. 



Length about 26 inches, tail 8, wing 13*8, tarsus T4, bill from gape 4- 3. 

 These are the dimensions of an adult bird in the British Museum. 



Dr. Jerdon records this Booby from the Bay of Bengal, where it is 

 extremely likely to occur. 



It is found in the tropical seas of the whole world, wandering at times 

 outside the tropics for some distance. 



