( 63 ) 

 THE BOOBY GANNET. 



SULA FUSCA, BrisS. 

 PLATE CCVII. Male. 



As the Marion was nearing the curious islets of the Tortugas, one of 

 the birds that more particularly attracted my notice was of this species. 

 The nearer we approached the land, the more numerous did they become, 

 and I felt delighted with the hope that ere many days should elapse, I 

 should have an opportunity of studying their habits. As night drew her 

 sombre curtain over the face of nature, some of these birds alighted on 

 the top-yard of our bark, and I observed ever afterwards that they mani- 

 fested a propensity to roost at as great a height as possible above the sur- 

 rounding objects, making choice of the tops of bushes, or even upright 

 poles, and disputing with each other the privilege. The first that was 

 shot at, was approached with considerable difficulty : it had alighted on 

 the prong of a tree which had floated and been fastened to the bottom of 

 a rocky shallow at some distance from shore ; the water was about four 

 feet deep and quite rough ; sharks we well knew were abundant around 

 us ; but the desire to procure the bird was too strong to be overcome by 

 such obstacles. In an instant, the pilot and myself were over the sides 

 of the boat, and onward we proceeded with our guns cocked and ready. 

 The yawl was well manned, and its crew awaiting the result. After we 

 had struggled through the turbulent waters about a hundred yards, my 

 companion raised his gun and fired ; but away flew the bird with a broken 

 leg, and we saw no more of it that day. Next day, however, at the same 

 hour, the Booby was seen perched on the same prong, where, after rest- 

 ing about three hours, it made off to the open sea, doubtless in search of 

 food. 



About eight miles to the north-east of the Tortugas Lighthouse, lies 

 a small sand-bar a few acres in extent, called Booby Island, on account 

 of the number of birds of this species that resort to it during the breed- 

 ing-season, and to it we accordingly went. We found it not more than 

 a few feet above the surface of the water, but covered with Boobies, which 

 lay basking in the sunshine, and pluming themselves. Our attempt to 

 land on the island before the birds should fly off, proved futile, for befpre 



