GANNETS 
179 
1 
Range. — Fla. and Bermuda s. to W. Indies and Atlantic coast of Cen. 
Am., accidental in w. N. Y. and N. S. 
Nest, in holes in rocks or cliffs. Egg, 1, heavily dotted or marked with 
chestnut, 2' 10 x 1'45. Date, Bermuda, May 5. 
This species breeds abundantly in the Bermudas, but is of rare 
occurrence on our coasts. 
The Red-billed Tropic-bird (118. Phaethon cethereus, Fig. 28) resembles 
the preceding species, but has the bill red and the upperparts finely barred 
with black. Its range in the Atlantic is more southern than that of the 
Yellow-billed Tropic-bird. The only record of its occurrence in eastern 
North America is off the Newfoundland Banks. 
10. Family Sulidjs. Gannets. (Figs. 27, 29.) 
The Gannets or Boobies number eleven species, of which one is 
northern while the remaining ten are distributed throughout the tropi- 
cal and subtropical coasts of the world, five of them having been recorded 
from our southern borders. They are strictly maritime, but are more 
abundant near the coast than on the high seas. Their flight is strong 
and rapid, the vigorous strokes of the wing being interrupted at inter- 
vals by a short sail. They obtain their food of fish by plunging for it 
from the air. The northern species is migratory; the others are roving, 
but all return with regularity to their nesting-places, generally on some 
islet, where, during the breeding season, they may be found associated 
in large numbers. The young are born naked, but are soon covered 
with white down. In common with other members of the Order Stegan - 
opodes (except Phaethon) they feed by thrusting their head down the 
parent’s throat. They are wholly dependent on parental care until they 
acquire the power of flight. 
115 . Sula leucogastra ( Bodd .). Booby. (Fig. 27.) Ads . — Breast and 
belly white, sometimes washed with grayish; rest of plumage brownish 
fuscous; head and neck sometimes streaked with grayish brown and white; 
bill and feet yellowish. Im . — Entire plumage brownish fuscous, lighter 
below; bill blackish, feet yellow. L., 30‘00; W., 15*50; T., 8*00; B., 3*80. 
Range . — Atlantic coasts of tropical Am., and Pacific and Indian Oceans; 
casual on s. Atlantic and Gulf coasts of U. S. from S. C. to La. ; accidental 
on L. I. and in Mass. 
Nest, on the ground of a barren islet. Eggs, 2, chalky white, 2*30 x 1*55. 
Date, Cay Verde, Bahamas, February. 
This Booby breeds abundantly in Cay Verde, southeast of Ragged 
Island in the Bahamas, and on other Bahaman Keys, but is known 
on our coasts only as an irregular visitant, though off eastern Florida 
it is of probably more frequent occurrence than the actual records 
would indicate. Bangs observed it in numbers off the coast east of 
Micco on February 12, 1895 (Auk, XIX, p. 395), and on March 11, 1907, 
I saw twelve at the mouth of the St. John’s River. 
On its nesting-grounds the bird is exceedingly tame and will often 
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