North American Birds Eggs- 



59 



115.1. Brewster Booby. Siila brcwsteri. 



Range. — Pacific coast from Lower California southward. This Gannet 

 replaces the common Booby on the Pacific coast. It nests abundantlj' on many 

 islands in the Gulf of California, and in company with the blue-footed variety, 

 on San Pedro Martir Island. They generally lay two eggs, placing them upon 

 the bare rocks and surrounding them with a ring of sticks and seaweed to keep 

 them in place. The eggs are chalky white and cannot be distinguished from 

 those of the other Boobies. Data. — San Benedicto Is., Lower California, May 

 18, 1897. Single egg laid on the sand amid a fe,v blades of grass. 



I 16. Red-footed Booby. Stiln piKcator. 



This is another species that is only occasionally taken on the Florida coast. 

 The habits of the birds and their nesting habits are the same as those of the 

 others of the family. Two chalky white eggs are laid. Data. — San Benedicto 

 Is., Lower California, May 18, 1897. Single egg. Nest a few twigs of rank 

 grass. Collector, A. W. Anthony. 



117. Gannet. Siila lut^KOiiti. 



Range. — North Atlantic, breeding, in America, only on Bird Rocks in the St. 

 Lawrence. 



These are the largest of the family, being 85 inches in length. They feed on 

 fish which they catch liy diving upon, from the air. When Hying their neck is 

 carried fully extended. They rest on the water when tireil, the numerous air 



[Chalky bluish white. I 



cells beneath the skin, causing them to sit high up in the water and enal)ling 

 them to weather the severest storm in perfect safety. The only known breeding 

 place in America is Bird Rocks where they nest by thousands, placing their 

 nests in rows on the narrow ledges ; the nests are made of piles of seaweed, muil 

 and stones. They lay but one egg of a dingy white color and covered with a 

 chalky deposit. On St. Kilda Island, off the coast of Scotland, they breed by 

 millions. They are very tame and will frequently allow themselves to be touched 

 with the hand. It is said that thousands of the young are killed by fishermen 

 every year and marketed in Edinburg and other places. Data. — St. Kilda 

 Island, Scotland, June 18, 1896. Single egg laid on a large mass of seaweed on 

 a sea cliff. Collector, H. McDonald. 



