North American Birds Eggs. 



57 



GAIMNETS. Family SULIDAE. 



Gannets are large stoutly built birds, having the four toes joined bj' a web; 

 they have a small naked pouch beneath the bill; the bill is a little longer than 

 the head, and the tail is quite short. The plumage of the adults is generally 

 white, that of the young grayish. 



114. Blue-faced Booby. Suki cyanopn. 



Range. — Widely distributed in the tropical seas, north casually 'to Florida 

 and breeding in the Bahamas. 



Like the rest of the Gannets, this one is stupid and will often remain on the 

 nest until removed with the hand, merely hissing at the intruder. Often they 

 lay their eggs on the bare ground, but sometimes the nest is lined with seaweed 

 or grass. They lay either one or two eggs early in April. These eggs are of a 

 dull white color and are heavilj' covered witli a chalky deposit. Size 2.50 x 1.70 

 Data. — Clarion Is., Mexico, May 24, 1897. Nest a mere hollow in the sand near 

 the beach. Collector, A. W. Anthony. 



I 14.1. Blue-footed Booby. Sula nehniixii. 



Range. — Pacitic coasts and islands from the Gulf of California southward to 

 Chili. ^ 



These birds nest in numbers on the island of San Pedro Martir in the Gulf of 

 California. They lay but a single egg, placing it upon the bare rock. Their 

 breeding season extends from the latter jjart of March into Jfay. The egg is a 

 dull white, generally nest stained and is covered with the usual chalky deposit. 

 Size 2.35 X 1.60. Data.— Clarion Island, Mexico, May 21, 1<S!17 Two eggs in a 

 hidlow in the sand near the beach. Collector, A. AV. .\nthony. 



/^. 



I 1 5. Booby. Sula f:ul(i. 

 -Tropical coasts 



and islands of tlie Atlantic; north casually to 



the islands of the 

 Booby because the 



Range. - 



Georgia. 

 The common Booby is an abundant bird (jn some of 



Bahamas and Bermudas; it is commonly called the Brown 



upper parts are of a brownish gray. These birds, as do the other Gannets, have 



great powers of flight and without apparent effcjrt dart about with the speed of 



an arrow. They are quite awkward 

 upon their feet and are not very 

 proficient swimmers. They rarely 

 rest upon the water except when 

 tired hundreds and sometimes 

 thousands of them breed in 

 company, laying their eggs upon 

 the bare rocks. Sometimes a few 

 sticks or grasses will be placed 

 about the bird to prevent the eggs 

 from rolling away. They generally 

 lay two eggs, chalky white and nest 

 stained. Size 2.40 x 1.60. Data.— 

 Key Verd, Bahamas, April 14, 1891. 

 No nest; two eggs laid on the bare 

 [Chalky bluish white, nest stained. J rocks. 



