GANNETS 179 



Range. Fla. and Bermuda s. to W. Indies and Atlantic coast of Cen. 

 Am., accidental in w. N. Y. and N. S. 



Nest, in holes in rocks or cliffs. Egg, 1, heavily dotted or marked with 

 chestnut, 2' 10 x T45. Date, Bermuda, May 5. 



This species breeds abundantly in the Bermudas, but is of rare 

 occurrence on our coasts. 



The RED-BILLED TROPIC-BIRD (113. Phaethon cethereus, Fig. 28) resembles 

 the preceding species, but has the bill red and the upperparts finely barred 

 with black. Its range in the Atlantic is more southern than that of the 

 Yellow-billed Tropic-bird. The only record of its occurrence in eastern 

 North America is off the Newfoundland Banks. 



10. FAMILY SULIDJE. GANNETS. (Figs. 27, 29.) 



The Gannets or Boobies number eleven species, of which one is 

 northern while the remaining ten are distributed throughout the tropi- 

 cal and subtropical coasts of the world, five of them having been recorded 

 from our southern borders. They are strictly maritime, but are more 

 abundant near the coast than on the high seas. Their flight is strong 

 and rapid, the vigorous strokes of the wing being interrupted at inter- 

 vals by a short sail. They obtain their food of fish by plunging for it 

 from the air. The northern species is migratory; the others are roving, 

 but all return with regularity to their nesting-places, generally on some 

 islet, where, during the breeding season, they may be found associated 

 in large numbers. The young are born naked, but are soon covered 

 with white down. In common with other members of the Order Stegan- 

 opodes (except Phaethon) they feed by thrusting their head down the 

 parent's throat. They are wholly dependent on parental care until they 

 acquire the power of flight. 



115. Sula leucpgastra (Bodd.}. BOOBY. (Fig. 27.) Ads. Breast and 

 belly white, sometimes washed with grayish; rest of plumage brownish 

 fuscous; head and neck sometimes streaked with grayish brown and white; 

 bill and feet yellowish. Im. Entire plumage brownish fuscous, lighter 

 below; bill blackish, feet yellow. L., 30*00; W., 15-50; T., 8'00; B., 3'80. 



Range. Atlantic coasts of tropical Am., and Pacific and Indian Oceans; 

 casual on s. Atlantic and Gulf coasts of U. S. from S. C. to La. ; accidental 

 on L. I. and in Mass. 



Nest, on the ground of a barren islet. Eggs, 2, chalky white, 2'30 x T55. 

 Date, Cay Verde, Bahamas, February. 



This Booby breeds abundantly in Cay Verde, southeast of Ragged 

 Island in the Bahamas, and on other Bahaman Keys, but is known 

 on our coasts only as an irregular visitant, though off eastern Florida 

 it is of probably more frequent occurrence than the actual records 

 would indicate. Bangs observed it in numbers off the coast east of 

 Micco on February 12, 1895 (Auk, XIX, p. 395), and on March 11, 1907, 

 I saw twelve at the mouth of the St. John's River. 



On its nesting-grounds the bird is exceedingly tame and will often 

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