e purplish ground speckled with brown.

[Illustration 075: Pale purplish.]
[Illustration: Pale purplish ground color.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]

Page 74

GANNETS. Family SULIDAE

Gannets are large stoutly built birds, having the four toes joined by a
web; they have a small naked pouch beneath the bill; the bill is a
little longer than the head, and the tail is quite short. The plumage of
the adults is generally white, that of the young grayish.

114. BLUE-FACED BOOBY. _Sula syanops._

Range.--Widely distributed in the tropical seas, north casually to
Florida and breeding in the Bahamas.

Like the rest of the Gannets, this one is stupid and will often remain
on the nest until removed with the hand, merely hissing at the intruder.
Often they lay their eggs on the bare ground, but sometimes the nest is
lined with seaweed or grass. They lay either one or two eggs early in
April. These eggs are of a dull white color and are heavily covered with
a chalky deposit. Size 2.50 x 1.70. Data.--Clarion Is., Mexico, May 24,
1897. Nest a mere hollow in the sand near the beach. Collector, A. W.
Anthony.

114.1. BLUE-FOOTED BOOBY. _Sula nebouxi._

Range.--Pacific coasts and islands from the Gulf of California southward
to Chili.

These birds nest in numbers on the island of San Pedro Martir in the
Gulf of California. They lay but a single egg, placing it upon the bare
rock. Their breeding season extends from the latter part of March into
May. The egg is a dull white, generally nest stained and is covered with
the usual chalky deposit. Size 2.35 x 1.60. Data.--Clarion Island,
Mexico, May 21, 1897. Two eggs in a hollow in the sand near the beach.
Collector, A. W. Anthony.

[Illustration 076: Blue-faced Booby. Blue-footed Booby.]
[Illustration: deco.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]

Page 75

115. BOOBY. _Sula leucogastra._

Range.--Tropical coasts and islands of the Atlantic; north casually to
Georgia.

The common Booby is an abundant bird on some of the islands of the
Bahamas and Bermudas; it is commonly called the Brown Booby because the
upper parts are of a brownish gray. These birds, as do the other
Gannets, have great powers of flight and without apparent effort dart
about with the speed of an arrow. They are quite awkward upon their feet
and are not very proficient swimmers. They rarely rest upon the water
except when tired. Hundreds and sometimes thousands of them breed in
company, laying thei