THE BOOBY OANNET. 
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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 Fioridas 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 years 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 
