20 EXPEDITION TO LAYS AN ISLAND IN 1911. 



control and quickly disgorged the contents of its crop, and the man- 

 o'-war bird actually caught the fish as it came from the booby's 

 mouth. 



Sula piscator (linn.) . Red-footed Booby. 



The red-footed booby (PI. VII, fig. 2), like its relative, is not very 

 abundant. They are confined to a small area on the north part of 

 the island, nesting in the tops of low bushes. Their numbers in- 

 creased about the same time we noted the increase of the former 

 species. There were about 125 birds in all. 



FREGATID.E. 



Fregata aquila (Linn.). Man-o'-war Bird. 



On the inner eastern slope of the island the man-o'-war birds 

 (PL VIII) may be found. They nest in colonies in the tops of low 

 bushes which, if placed near together, would cover about 6 acres. As 

 it is, however, they appear to cover many times that amount of space. 



Here sitting quietly on each nest is the owner thereof, holding down 

 his claim. When one bird leaves the nest its mate immediately takes 

 its place, for if a nest is left unguarded the birds that seem to be off 

 duty swoop down, apparently passing nearly over it, when with a 

 quick movement of the beak they pick up a stick and carry it away. 

 Thus stick by stick the nest is completely removed. If there happens 

 to be a young bird or an egg in the nest, it is destroyed and eaten by 

 the winged cannibals. 



One forgets the shortcomings of these birds when he sees them sail- 

 ing on motionless wing far above him. It would seem that they make 

 use of the hot air currents arising from the island and thus sail about 

 with very little effort. 



It seems strange that man-o'-war birds should have increased in 

 numbers, when we think of their wholesale slaughter of each other's 

 offspring, but according to previous reports they were less abundant 

 on Laysan formerly than to-day, numbering 12,500 at the present 



time. 



ANATID.E. 



Anas laysanensis Rothschild. Laysan Teal. 



No signs of the Laysan teal (PI. IX, fig. 1) were seen for the first 

 few days of our stay, and then we found feathers and other parts of 

 those which the marauders had dressed for food. Later, however, 

 we saw them in small flocks, six being the most seen at one time. 

 Some teals seemed to be nesting in the grass near the small fresh- 

 water pond on the south end of the island, but we were unable to 

 find any nests. 



The man-o'-war birds persistently pursued them, but they did not 

 to my knowledge kill or harm any of them. They may, however, kill 

 young teals. 



