364 



ORNITHOLOGY. 



CCLXXVII; Aud. B. of Am. Plate CCVII; oct. ed. VII, Plate 

 CCCCXXVI ; Gould, B. of Aust. VII, Plate LXXVIII. 



One of the most extensively diffused of aquatic birds, being found 

 abundantly on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the southern 

 portion of the continent of America, and tliroughout the Pacific Ocean 

 to the coasts of Asia. It frequents the islands near the coast of Flo- 

 rida, and others in the Gulf of Mexico in large numbers, and at those 

 localities rears its young, and also quite as numerously and for the 

 same purpose, many islands in the Pacific Ocean. 



After close examination of a large number of specimens from locali- 

 ties widely remote from each other, we find no specific differences. 



This bird is thus mentioned by Mr. Peale : 



" Brown Boobies were found breeding on nearly all the coral islands 

 visited by the Expedition, while in the Pacific Ocean. Their nests 

 were constructed of sticks and weeds, on bushes and low trees, and 

 were generally found to contain but one egg, of a bluish-white color. 

 They take their food, which consists entirely of fishes, by plunging 

 after it like the Terns [Sterna), and very frequently they are seen 

 coursing the ocean at great distances from land, which renders the 

 following incident the more remarkable. 



" AVhile exploring Enderby's Island, which is of coral formation, 

 we found a full-plumaged bird of this species, that is, one having a 

 white breast, which indicated that it was several years old, at least a 

 quarter of a mile from the shore, and on picking it up, we were sur- 

 prised to find that it had but one wing, the other having been, by some 

 accident, taken off close to the body. The wound was perfectly healed ; 

 the bird in excellent health and very fat ! It was fed by its comrades, 

 which were younger birds, as indicated by the brown plumage of their 

 breasts, and they continued, while we were near, to display all the 

 careful anxiety of parents," 



Dr. Pickering first mentions this species as having been noticed in the 

 Bay of Rio de Janeiro. He says it was "common near the mouth of 

 the Bay, and apparently by no means deserving the name of ' Booby,' 

 which has been bestowed on it. Its flight is very easy, and it fre- 

 quently dives directly into the water, disappearing entirely for some 

 moments." He again notices it at various localities, and as particu- 

 larly abundant at Aurora Island, in the month of September. 



On the Atlantic coast of North America, this species is found as far 



