M 



I 



SULID^ — THE GANNETS — SULA. 



181 



The 



it may be secured by fastening fish to a soft plank and sinking it in the water, 

 liooby plunges headlong upon the plank, and drives its bill into the wood. 



Mr. Gosse met with this species in Jamaica. He found it not infrequently taking 

 shelter from the attacks of the Frigate Uird in trees near Bluefield Bay. The birds 

 huddled there in little groups, sitting closely side by side, so that four or five might 

 be brought down at a shot. He invariably found the stomachs of those which were 

 thus obtained entirely empty, the birds having probably been obliged to disgorge their 

 prey by the attacks of the Frigate-birds. As they sit they frequently utter a loud 

 croaking cackle. One Gannet which had been disabled manifested great ferocity, 

 striking forcibly with its open beak, endeavoring to pierce with its very acute points, 

 as well as to cut with its keen, saw-like edges. It had sufficient sagacity to pay no 

 attention to a stick, but struck at the hand of Mr. Gosse, by whom the instrument of 

 attack was held. 



Dr. Bryant, in his paper on the birds of East Florida (" Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. 

 Hist." VII. 6), states that he found the Booby quite numerous at the Tortugas, but did 

 not find any breeding there ; and he was informed by the keeper of the light that, .so 

 far as he knew, none had bred there for eighteen years, and Dr. Bryant could find no 

 one that had ever known it to breed in that locality. 



Afterward, in his paper on the birds seen at the Bahamas, in the same volume 

 (p. 1 23), he is positive that Audubon was mistaken .n saying that this species breeds 

 at the Tortugas. The time at which it lays its eggs, and the absence of any nest, are 

 circumstances quite at variance with his account ; and he evidently mistook the nests 

 of the Brown Pelican for those of the Booby. Dr. Bryant found the eggs laid in 

 most cases by the first of February, the bird making no nest, not even an excavation 

 in the soil. The eggs were deposited indifferently on sand, grass, or bare rock. His 

 first visit to one of their breeding-places was made on the 10th of April at Santo 

 Domingo Key, thirty-three miles south of Great Ragged Island, at the extremity of 

 the southern point of the bank, and rarely visited. It is four acres in extent, and so 

 low that in storms it is entirely washed by the waves. At the time of his visit it was 

 covered with Boobies, mostly young, the greater part fully fledged, but still dependent 

 upon the i)arent birds for food. The latter kept by themselves, and were perched 

 on the rocks all around the edge of the Key. The young were sprinkled over the 

 Key, Avherever there was room, and were of all ages, from those almost able to fly, to 

 sucii as had just been hatched. He found the eggs of twenty pairs, most of them 

 on the point of hatching. The number in every case was two. In appearance they 

 resembled those of the family generally, being a greenish white covered with a chalky 

 substance. In size they varied considerably, as also in form. The most elongated one 

 measured 2.G4 by 1.50 inches, the broadest 2.16 by 1.57 inches ; the others varying 

 Iji'tween these two extremes, but averaging more nearly like the latter. 



The young were entirely naked when first hatched, and of a livid blue color. They 

 soon become covered with a white down ; then the quills and tail-feathers, of a cine- 

 reous brown, make their appearance ; then the feathers of the body, neck, and head ; 

 and lastly those of the throat. The old birds did not tiouble themselves to get out 

 of his way, but on being approached too nearly, darted at him with their powerful 

 bills in a most savage manner. They were very quarrelsome, continually striking at 

 one another, not at all in an amicable manner, but as if they intended to do all the 

 mischief in their power. It was difficult to understand how the different birds recog- 

 nized their own young, as they did not continue in the same place after the young 

 had attained any size. 



Dr. Bryant considers the Booby the. most expert diver with which he is acquainted. 



