60 



NEST8 AND E(faa OF 



113. Red-billed Tropic Bird (From Brehm). 



The Red-billed Tropic Bird occurs along the Pacific coast of South Ainerica, in 

 the West Indies, and as far north as Cape St. Lucas. In one instance it is said to 

 have straggled to Newfoundland. Breeds on the various islands off the coast of 

 Mexico. Its breeding habits are said to be like those of the Yellow-billed species. 

 The eggs are creamy-white with a purplish tinge, marked with fine dots of chestnut- 

 brown. The sizes vary from 2.20 to 2.37 in length by 1.55 to 1.70 in breadth. 



114. BLTJE-FACED BOOBY. Sula cyanops Sund. Geog. Dist.— South Pacific, 

 West Indies and Southern Florida. 



The Gannets are birds that resemble very closely the cormorants, and, again, 

 they may be said to look like geese— a name often applied to them. They are large, 

 heavy sea-birds, noted for their vigorous protracted flight. They procure their 

 food by plunging into the water from a height, completely submerging themselves, 

 often for several minutes. The Blue-faced Gannet inhabits the . Southern Pacific 

 Ocean as far southwest as Australia. In some of the islands of the Paumotu 

 Gi'oup this species deposits its eggs on the dry sandy beaches of lagoons. Both 

 sexes incubate. When a colony of these birds is disturbed none of them leave their 

 nests, but remain gravely at their stations, and hiss at the intruder like a domestic 

 goose. On the Bahamas this species nests in the latter part of March, laying always 



