184 



TOTIPALMATE SWIMMERS — STEGANOPODES. 



Mr. Richard Hill lias identitied this species as one of three or four kinds ol 

 Boobies which frequent the Pedro Keys of Jamaica, and are also seen on the coast 

 near Kingston. It is known as the Black-and-white Booby. Mv. Hill had in liis 

 possession a pair of this species alive, of whose habits in coniinement Mr. Gossc 

 has published some interesting notes. The sympathy manifested by most gregarious 

 birds for their wounded companions is very strongly shown by this species. It makes 

 extraordinary efforts to assist a wounded bird when fluttering in the water. An 

 accident which happened to one of the tAVO Boobies in Mr. Hill's yard gave an ojjpoi- 

 tuuity of witnessing these traits of feeling and the attendant emotions. Mr. Hill's 

 little nephew, in chasing with a whip one of the birds, entangled the lash about its 

 wing and snapped the arm-bone. Mr. Hill adds : The one bird not only showed 

 sympathy for the other, but exhibited curiosity about tlie nature of the accident. 

 The wounded bird withdrew into a lonely part of the yard, and stood there drooping. 

 The female sought him as soon as she heard his cry ; and after ascertaining that the 

 injury was in the wing, proceeded to prevail on him to move the limb, that she 

 might see if he was disabled beyond the power of using it for flight. After a quaiik- 

 ing honk or two, as a call to do something required of him, the female stretched out 

 one of her wings ; the wounded male imitated her, and making an effort, moved out 

 in some sort of way the wounded member to its full length. He was now required, 

 by a corresiwnding movement, to raise it ; he raised the broken arm, but the wing could 

 not be elevated. Her wounded companion was next persuaded to make another trial 

 at imitation, and to give the wing some three or four good flaps. He foUoAved the 

 given signal, and gave the required beats; but twirled the broken wing quite round, 

 and turned it inside out. As by this the mischief was greatly incireased, Mr. Hill 

 deemed it necessary to put a stop to this process of investigation of the one bird into 

 the misfortune of the other. Taking up the bird with the twisted wing and setting the 

 limb, he restrained him from any farther gratittcation of his mate's curiosity by tying 

 the wing into place, and keeping it so tied until the bone united. She continued to 

 attend him, carefully examined day after day the broken limb, and occasionally 

 called upon him to make an effort to raise his disabled member, using ineffectual 

 endeavors to persuade him to lift it by lifting her own from time to time. 



This species is said to have a predilection for elevated spots as perching-places, 

 If a single stone is higher than the others, the fact is quickly noticed, and the bird, 

 after having partaken of a satisfactory meal, takes its stand on the elevated spot. 1 f 

 a log or pile of wood is at hand, the bird perches on that to sun itself, extending its 

 wings over its tail, and erecting its dorsal feathers for the admission of the sun's rays. 

 It roosts upon similar elevated places. It has great prehensile power with its foot, 

 and its serrated middle toe is frequently applied to scratch the naked skin about its 

 eyes and face. Mr. Hill's birds were more fond of flesh meat, such as beef and pork, 

 than of fish. They disliked fat, and would reject it when given separately from tin' 

 lean. They never drank, and were as regardless of the water about the yard as if tin y 

 were unadapted for it. Mr. Hill also states that the anatomy of this species exhibits 

 in a remarkably interesting manner its fine adaptation for the purpose of giving tin' 

 bird buoyancy : the muscles show air-vessels interspersed among them in a manner 

 altogether surprising. 



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