. Birds. Birds. 346 SULIDJE. times near continents, laving a (tingle egg, which is externally chalky- white, but bluish green when the outer layer is removed. All have a steady, rather powerful flight, gen erally to be recognized by the bird's hiE^bit of alternately making a few rapid beats with the wings and then sailing for some distance with wings extended. They feed upon fish, the tropical species very generally on flying-fish, but remains of cuttlefishes have also been found in their stomachs. The Gannets, or Solan Geese, as they are often called, dash into the sea after their prey from a
. Birds. Birds. 346 SULIDJE. times near continents, laving a (tingle egg, which is externally chalky- white, but bluish green when the outer layer is removed. All have a steady, rather powerful flight, gen erally to be recognized by the bird's hiE^bit of alternately making a few rapid beats with the wings and then sailing for some distance with wings extended. They feed upon fish, the tropical species very generally on flying-fish, but remains of cuttlefishes have also been found in their stomachs. The Gannets, or Solan Geese, as they are often called, dash into the sea after their prey from a considerable height and with great force, but Boobies appear less addicted to this style of fishing. The name Booby appears to be derived partly from the stolid appearance of the birds, partly from their frequently settling on vessels and allowing themselves to be easily captured. 1530. Sula leucogaster. The Booby or Brown Gannet. Pelecanus sula, Linn. Syst. Nat. i, p, 218 (1766). Pelecanus leucogaster, Bodd. Tahl. PI. Enl. p. -57 (1783). Sula fiber, Ojpud , Cat. p. 286; Jerdon, B. /.iii, p. 851; Hume, S. F. ii, pp. 51,324; iv, p. 483. Sula australis, Steph. apud Hume, S. F. v, p. 318; Sume Sr Bav. S. F. \i, p. 493: Hume, Cat. no. 998. Sula leucogastra, Sctat. & Sale. P. Z. S. 1878, p. 651; Zeow, Birds Ceyl. p. 1177. Dysporus sula, Oates, B. B. ii, p. Fig. 80.—Head of S. leucogaster. |. Coloration. In adults the head, neck, and upper breast, with the whole upper surface, dark chocolate-brown; wing and tail- feathers bluish brown; lower breast and belly white; wing-lining almost wholly brown. Young birds have the upper parts, wings, tail, head, and neck all round down to the middle of the breast uniform sepia-brown, lower breast and abdomen pale brownish, the limits of the two colours well defined. Bill creamy white, with a bluish tinge in veins; pouch,gape, lores, and orbital spaces pale hoary greenish yellow ; irides white; legs and feet pale yellow (Hume).
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