Jan., 1904 I 
THE CONDOR 
7 
find down in the sandy bed of an old crater a nesting colony of these boobies. The 
air was extremely hot, and numerous skeletons scattered about showed a heavy 
mortality from some cause, possibh' the heat; but more than likely they were of 
young birds, whose parents had ceased to feed them, and which were unable to 
rise out of the crater. So steep are the sides that the birds usually have to circle 
around in the crater several times before they can fly out. On Brattle Island, 
which is nothing but the rock3'- north side of an old crater, Neboux boobies nest in 
the sandy spots on top of the ridge, 900 feet high, where the wind keeps them 
cool during the nesting season. At Tagus Cove, Albemarle Island, we find them 
with still different surroundings. Here they nest on narrow ledges on the cliffs a 
few feet above the water. We rowed over to a small colony one morning and I 
secured a few pictures at close range. In fact it was necessarily very close for it 
VARIEGATED BOOBIES AND FRIGATE BIRO 
was all I could do to maintain my balance on the sliding rocks while I focused on 
the sitting birds. Matters were further complicated by an irate female, sitting 
just behind me, who wanted to puncture my legs every time I moved an inch or 
two in her direction. And this reminds me; to all picture-takers who contemplate 
visiting the Galapagos Islands I would strongly recommend the purchase of a good 
brand of cast-iron leggins. From my experience of three trips I am convinced 
they will be just the thing. They will save lots of bad words and tempers caused 
by unseen cactus spines that are always in ambush for the unwary, and I can tes- 
tify that on more than one occasion they would have saved me from some awful 
scars that frigate birds, boobies, and iguanas have given me. But to return to 
our Neboux boobies. The amorous love song of the male is uttered in a spread 
eagle attitude that may cause the photographer to titter, but even so, I hope .some 
