48 HISTORY OF THE 



brown; feet light carmine above, orange beneath. Adult female: Dull black, 

 the central area of the lesser wing covert region light grayish brown; back and 

 scapulars only faintly glossed, the feathers not lanceolate; breast with a large 

 white patch, extending downward along each side nearly or quite to the flanks, 

 and upward on the sides of the jugulum (sometimes extending around the hind 

 neck); iris dark brown; orbits and gular skin dark plumbeous, with a tinge of 

 violaceus; feet carmine. Young, (second year ?): Upper parts as in the adult 

 female; head, neck, breast and abdomen white; iris dull dark blue; bill horn 

 color, darker at base; legs and feet pale pinkish blue. Nestling: Covered with 

 a very fluffy white cottony down. The bare gular space, gular sac, legs and 

 feet differ largely in color with age and season." 



Stretch of 

 Length. -wing. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Bill. 



Male 40.50 88.00 26.00 18.50 .80 4.75 



Female... 39.00 86.00 24.00 18.00 .80 4.25 



The birds are strictly maritime, and never wander far inland, 

 unless bewildered or lost Their power of flight is developed 

 to the highest degree, enabling them to face the most violent 

 of storms; and when the waves are rolling mountains high, and 

 breaking upon the shoals and the beach with wild fury, and 

 most of the water birds have fled to sheltered retreats, this 

 species can be seen beating the wind and circling through it 

 with the ease of the swallow when it is calm. 



The birds are parasitical in their habits, and depend largely 

 for their food upon the catch of the Boobies, Gulls and Terns, 

 which they swoop down upon and harrass until they disgorge 

 or drop their fish, catching the same without an apparent effort 

 before it reaches the water; and I have seen them catch the 

 flying fish, as they spring into the air to escape from the larger 

 fishes that prey upon them within their own element. The 

 birds course during the day in small flocks and alone, but at eve 

 gather together in larger numbers at their roosts, in the mangrove 

 bushes growing in or overhanging the water. They also nest 

 in communities, and in similar situations, on the bushes and 

 trees. Their nests are poorly constructed platforms of sticks 

 loosely interwoven. The female lays one egg, 2.75x1.86; in 

 color, white or pale greenish white, with a thick, smooth shell; 

 in form, ovate to elongate ovate. 



