02 



GANNETS. 



Family Suud^. Gannets. 



The Oanncts number about eight species, of which one is northern 

 while the remaining seven are distributed throughout the tropical and 

 subtropical coasts of the world. They are strictly maritime, but, ex- 

 cept when migrating, do not venture far from land. Their flight is 

 strong and rapid, the vigorous strokes of the wing being interrupted 

 at intervals by a short sail. They obtain their food of fish by plung- 

 ing for it from the air. The northern species is migatory ; the others 

 are roving, but all return with regularity to their nesting places, gen- 

 erally Oil some inaccessible islet, where during the breeding season, 

 they may be found associated in large numbers. 



115« Suia aula {Linn.), BooBV. (Sec Fig. 12.) Ad. — Breaflt and 

 belly white, soinetiiiicH \vu«hed witli gruyish ; rest of tlio pluiuugc brownish 

 fuscous; head and neck Ronictiines streaked with gray isli brown and white; 

 bill and feet yellowish. Jrn. — Entire plumage brownish fuscous, ligliter be- 

 low ; bill blackish, feet yellow. L., 30-00 ; W., 15-50 : T., 8-00 ; B., 3-80. 



liantje. — " Coasts of tropical and subtropical America, north to Georgia." 



Long Island, A. V., one record. 



Ntdt, on tlio shore of a barren islet. E<jtj»y two, chalky white, 2-30 x 1*55. 



This inhabitant of barren shores and lonely islets is a summer 

 visitant to the Florida keys. It is a strong flier, and when on the 

 wing reminds one of both a Cormorant and a Gull. 



Tlie Bu'E-FAc'Ei) BoouY (/7.^. .S'w/a t7rt/i^>/)'*) is found in tlic " South Pa- 

 cific, West Indies, and northward to Florida," but there are no recent records 

 of its occurrence in the last-named locality. 



The REn-FooTEi) Boohy {116. iSula pisrator) inhabits the coasts and 

 islands of tropical and subtropical seas, north to ^vestcrn Mexico, and is said 

 to occur in Florida, l)ut, like S. cyanopx, it is of accidental occurrence within 

 our limits. 



117» Sula baBSana (Linn.). Gannet. ^1</.— White, head and neck 

 tinged with pale straw-yellow ; primaries fuscous. Im. — Throat and upper 

 parts, including wing-coverts, dark grayish brown, each feather with a small 

 white wedge-shaped spot; breast and belly white, margined with grayish 

 brown. L., 35-00; W., 19-00; T., 9-50; B., 4-00. 



Kange. — " Coasts of the North Atlantic, south in winter to the Gulf of 

 Mexico and Africa; breeds from Nova Scotia and the British Islands north- 

 ward." 



Long Island, T. V., May ; Oct. and Nov. ; u few wint«r. 



Nest, on rocky cliffs. E(r(i, one, pale bluish white, overlaid by a chalky 

 deposit, more or less soiled and stained, 3-20 x 1-90. 



"The birds are usually associated in small, straggling floek.s, and 

 with outstretched necks, and eyes ever on the lookout for fish, they fly 

 at a height of from seventy-five to a hundred feet above the water, or 



