BOOBY. 379 



BOOBY. 



SULA SULA. 



Char. Upper parts and breast sooty brown, more or less varied with 

 gray ; under parts white. Length 31 inches. 



Nest. On an ocean island, sometimes on the ground, but usually placed 

 on a bush or low tree ; rudely made of twigs and sea-weed. 



Eggs. 1-2; chalky white; size very variable, average about 2.35 X 

 1.55. 



The Booby is found to be an inhabitant of islands and deso- 

 late sea-coasts throughout all the warm and temperate parts of 

 the globe, and has acquired its degrading name from its silly- 

 aspect and peculiar stupidity, suffering itself to be taken, not 

 only at sea on the ship's yards, but also on land, w^here these 

 birds may be despatched merely vi^ith clubs and sticks in great 

 numbers one after the other, without seeming to take any general 

 alarm, or using any efficient effort for escape. The only cause 

 that can be assigned for this want of conservative instinct, so 

 general and prompt among most of the feathered tribes, is 

 probably the fact of the difficulty and almost impossibihty of 

 setting their long wings into motion when they happen .to be 

 surprised on level ground, or fatigued with undue exertion. 



The Boobies, however, have a domestic enemy more steady, 

 though less bloodthirsty, in his persecutions than man ; this is 

 the Frigate Pelican, or Man-of-War Bird, who with a keen eye 

 descrying his humble vassal at a distance, pursues him without 

 intermission, and obliges him by blows with the wings and bill 

 to surrender his finny prey, which the pirate instantly seizes 

 and swallows. 



The Boobies, however, notwithstanding this tribute to their 

 marine monarch, contrive to obtain an ample supply of provi- 

 sion. They commonly hover above the surface of the waves, 

 at times scarcely moving their wings, and drop on a fish the 

 instant it emerges or approaches in view. Their flight, though 

 rapid and long-sustained, is greatly inferior to that of the 

 Frigate Bird ; accordingly, they do not roam so far, and their 



