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, except 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 plunging for it from the air. The northern species is migatory; the others are roving, but all return with regularity to their nesting places, generally 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.) Ad.-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 below; bill blackish, feet yellow. L., 30.00; W., 15.50: T., 8.00; B., 3.80. Range." 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 Pacific, West Indies, and northward to Florida," but there are no recent records of its occurrence in the last-named locality.
The RED-FOOTED BOOBY (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 bassana (Linn.). GANNET. Ad. - White, head and neck tinged with pale straw-yellow; primaries fuscous. Im. -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.
Range.-"Coasts of the North Atlantic, south in winter to the Gulf of Mexico and Africa; breeds from Nova Scotia and the British Islands northward." Long Island, T. V., May; Oct. and Nov.; a few winter. Nest, on rocky cliffs. Egg, one, pale bluish white, overlaid by a chalky deposit, more or less soiled and stained, 3.20 × 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 DARTERS. occasionally somewhat more. The height at which the Gannet flies above the water is proportioned to the depth at which the fish are swimming beneath, and Captain Collins tells me that when fish are swimming near the surface the Gannet flies very low and darts obliquely instead of vertically upon his prey. Should any finny game be seen within range, down goes the Gannet headlong, the nearly closed wings being used to guide the living arrow in its downward flight. Just above the surface the wings are firmly closed, and a small splash of spray shows where the winged fisher cleaves the water to transfix his prey. Disappearing for a few seconds, the bird reappears, rests for a moment on the water, long enough to swallow his catch, and then rises in pursuit of other game" (Lucas, Rep. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1891, p. 712).
FAMILY ANHINGIDE.
DARTERS.
There are four species of Darters or Snakebirds, one each in Africa, southern Asia, Australia, and tropical and subtropical America. They are silent birds, generally living in pairs on bodies of fresh water with wooded shores. They select a perch over the water, and when alarmed sometimes drop into the element below and disappear beneath its surface, or fly upward to a considerable height and circle about like sailing Hawks. They swim well, and when approached too closely quietly sink backward, frequently leaving the long, thin neck and narrow, pointed head above the surface, when one at once observes the origin of the name "Snakebird." They obtain their food by pursuing it under water, and their finely serrated bill assists them in retaining their hold upon it. 118. Anhinga anhinga (Linn.). ANHINGA; SNAKEBIRD; WATER