368 



ORNITHOLOGY. 



4. SuLA PEESONATA, Goulcl. — The Masked Gannet. 



SnJa lyersonata, Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 1846, p. 21. 



" Snla plscator, Lath." Peale, Zool. U. S. Exp. Exp. Birds, p. 273 (ed. 1848). 



" Sida ci/anojx?, Sundeval," Bonap. Consp. Av. 11, p. 1G6. 



Gould, B. of Aust. VII, Plate LXXYII ; Reich. Vollst. Naturg. 

 Bh'ds, Plate LIV, figs. 2289, 2:^90, 2291. 



This handsome species of Gannet, first brought to the notice of 

 naturalists by the eminent English ornithologist, Mr. Gould, is men- 

 tioned as having been observed in large numbers by the naturalists of 

 the Expedition. Though noticed at various localities, it was found 

 most abundant at Honden Island and Enderby's Island, in both of 

 which it was engaged in the duties of incubation. 



Apparently, or so far as is known, this species inhabits an extent 

 of the Pacific Ocean and its islands, of which Northern Australia is 

 the southwestern limit, and is more abundant in the northern and 

 eastern portion of its range, at least during the season devoted to rear- 

 ing its young. It is possible, however, that it may occur as nume- 

 rously on the eastern coast of Australia^ the zoology of which has 

 been but partially investigated. 



Specimens, in the collection of the Expedition, of this bird in various 

 stages of plumage, precisely correspond with the originals from which 

 were drawn Mr. Gould's description and figures, as above cited, and 

 which are now in the collection of the Academy of Natural Sciences 

 of Philadelphia. Mr. Gould's specimens are marked as having been 

 collected at Raine's Island,''' in Torres' Straits, and are so alluded to in 

 his splendid and elaborate work, " The Birds of Australia." 



Mr. Peale states with reference to this species : 



" This bird was first seen by the Expedition on the 20th of July, in 

 latitude 13° 30' 28" S., and longitude 89° 25' W. One month after- 

 wards, it was found in great numbers at Honden Island, one of the 

 most eastern of the Paumotu Group, They were sitting on a single 

 egg each, one bird only having two eggs; they had no nest whatever, 

 not even a cavity scratched in the sand. Flat, dry, sandy beaches 



* " A vegetated sandbank in the line of the Great Barrier Reef." Mr. McGillivray, 

 ill Gould's Birds of Australia. 



