60 THE BOOBY GANNET. 



they alight on the water, where, if undisturbed, they appear to remain for 

 hours at a time, probably until digestion has afforded them relief. 



The range to which this species confines itself along our coast, seldom 

 extends beyond Cape Hatteras to the eastward, but they become more and 

 more numerous the farther south we proceed. They breed abundantly on 

 all such islands or keys as are adapted for the purpose, on the southern and 

 western coasts of the Floridas and in the Gulf of Mexico, where I was told 

 they breed on the sand-bars. Their power of wing seems sufficient to 

 enable them to brave the tempest, while during a continuance of fair weather 

 they venture to a great distance seaward, and I have seen them fully 200 

 miles from land. 



The expansibility of the gullet of this species enables it to swallow fishes 

 of considerable size, and on such occasions their mouth seems to spread to 

 an unusual width. In the throats of several individuals that were shot as 

 they were returning to their nests, I found mullets measuring seven or eight 

 inches, that must have weighed fully half a pound. Their body, beneath the 

 skin, is covered with numerous air-cells, which probably assist them in 

 raising or lowering themselves while on wing, and perhaps still more so 

 when on the point of performing the rapid plunge by which they secure 

 their prey. 



Their principal enemies during the breeding-season are the American 

 Crow and the Fish Crow, both of which destroy their eggs, and the Turkey 

 Buzzard, which devours their young while yet unfledged. They breed 

 during the month of May, but I have not been able to ascertain if they raise 

 more than one brood in the season. The adult birds chase away those which 

 are yet immature during the period of incubation. It would seem that they 

 take several } r ears in attaining their perfect state. 



When procured alive, they feed freely, and may be kept any length of 

 time, provided they are supplied with fish. No other food, however, could 

 I tempt them to swallow, excepting slices of turtle, which after all they did 

 not seem to relish. In no instance did I observe one drinking. Some 

 authors have stated that the Frigate Pelican and the Lestris force the Booby 

 to disgorge its food that they may obtain it; but this I have never witnessed. 

 Like the Common Gannet, they may be secured by fastening a fish to a soft 

 plank, and sinking it a few feet beneath the surface of the water, for if they 

 perceive the bait, which they are likely to do if they pass over it, they 

 plunge headlong upon it, and drive their bill into the wood. 



When a Booby has alighted on the spar of a vessel, it is no easy matter to 

 catch it, unless it is much fatigued; but if exhausted and asleep, an expert 

 seaman may occasionally secure one. I was informed that after the breed- 

 ing-season, these birds roost on trees in company with the Brown Pelican 



