92 GANNETS.

FAMILY SULIDE. GANNETS.

The Gannets number about eight species. of which one is northern while the remaining seven are distributed throughout the tropical and subtropical coasts of the world. They are strictly maritime, but, ex- cept when migrating, do not venture far from land. Their flight is strong and rapid, the vigorous strokes of the wing being interrupted at intervals by a. short sail. They obtain their food of fish by plung- ing for it from the air. The northern species is migatory; the others are roving, but all return with regularity to their nesting places, gen- erally on some inaccessible islet, where, during the breeding season, they may be found associated in large numbers.

115. Sula, sula. (Linn). BOOBY. (See Fig. 12.) Ari—Breast and belly white, sometimes washed with grayish; rest of the plumage brownish fuscous; head and neck sometimes streaked with grayish brown and white; bill and feet yellowish. Im.—Entire plumage brownish fuscous, lighter be- low; bill blackish, feet yellow. L., 30-00; W., 15-50: T., 8'00; 13.. 3'80.

Bange.—“ Coasts of tropical and subtropical America, north to Georgia.”

Long Island, A. V., one record.

Nest, on the shore of a barren islet. Eggs, two, chalky white, 2'30 x 1‘55.

This inhabitant of barren shores and lonely islets is a summer visitant to the Florida keys. It is a strong flier, and when on the wing reminds one of both a Cormorant and a Gull.

The BLUE—FACED BOOBY (114. Sula cyanops) is found in the “ South Pa— cific, West Indies, and northward to Florida,” but there are no recent records of its occurrence in the last-named locality.

The RED—FOOTED Boosv (116. Sula piscator) inhabits the coasts and islands of tropical and subtropical seas, north to western Mexico, and is said to occur in Florida, but, like S. cyanops, it is of accidental occurrence within our limits.

117. Sula. banana. (Linn). GANNET. Ari—White, head and neck tinged with pale StI‘DW‘yGHOW; primaries fuscous. Inn—«Throat and upper parts, including wing-coverts. dark grayish brown, each feather with a small white wedge-shaped spot; breast and belly white, margined with grayish brown. L., 35-00; W.,19-00; T., 9-50; B., 4-00.

Bang/e.—“ Coasts of the North Atlantic, south in winter to the Gulf of

Mexico and Africa; breeds from Nova Scotia and the British Islands north- ward.”

Long Island, T. V., May; Oct. and Nov.; a few winter. Nest, on rocky clifl's. Egg, one, pale bluish white, overlaid by a chalky deposit, more or less soiled and stained, 3‘20 x 1'90.

“The birds are usually associated in small, straggling flocks, and with outstretched necks, and eyes ever on the lookout. for fish, they fly at a height of from seventy-five to a hundred feet above the water, or