346 



times near continents, laving a single egg, which is externally chalky 

 white, but bluish green when the outer layer is removed. All have a 

 steady, rather powerful flight, generally to be recognized by the bird's 

 habit of alternately making a few rapid beats with the wings and 

 then sailing for some distance with wings extended. They feed 

 upon fish, the tropical species very generally on flying-fish, but 

 remains of cuttlefishes have also been found in their stomachs. 

 The Gaunets, or Solan Geese, as they are often called, dash into 

 the sea after their prey from a considerable height and with great 

 force, but Boobies appear less addicted to this style of fishing. 

 The name Booby appears to be derived partly from the stolid 

 appearance of the birds, partly from their frequently settling on 

 vessels and allowing themselves to be easily captured, 



3530. Sula leucogaster. The Booby or Broivn Gamut. 



Pelecanus sula, Linn. Syst. Nat. i, p. 218 (1766). 



Pelecanus leucogaster, Bodd. Tabl PL Enl. p. 57 (1783). 



Sula fiber, apud Blj/th, Cat. p. 296; Jerdon, B. I. iii, p. 851 ; Hume, 



S. F. ii, pp. 51, 324 ; iv, p. 483. 

 Sula australis, Steph. apud Hume, 8. F. v, p. 318; Hume Sr Lai:. 



S. F. vi, p. 493 : Hume, Cat. no. 998. 

 Sula leucogastra, Sclat. fy Sale. P. Z. S. 1878, p. 601 ; Legye, Birds 



Ceyl. p. 1177. 

 Dysporus sula, Oates, B. B. ii, p. 229. 



Fig. 80. Head of S. Icucoy aster, i. 



Coloration. In adults the head, neck, and upper breast, with 

 the whole upper surface, dark chocolate-brown : wing and tail- 

 feathers bluish brown; lower breast and belly white; wing-lining 

 almost wholly brown. 



Young birds have the upper parts, wings, tail, head, and neck 

 all round down to the middle of the breast uniform sepia-brown, 

 lower breast and abdomen pale brow ; nish, the limits of the two 

 colours well defined. 



Bill creamy white, with a bluish tinge in veins ; pouch, gape, lores, 

 and orbital spaces pale hoary greenish yellow ; irides white ; legs 

 and feet pale yellow (Hume). Tail-feathers 14. 



Length 32; tail 8; wiug 15; tarsus 1'7; bill from gape 4'7. 



