62 WOOD DUCK.
part of the latter, light brownish-grey ; throat white, but without the
lateral processes 'of the male. Fore part of neck below and sides light
yellowish-brown, mottled with dark greyish-brown, as are the sides under
the wings; breast and abdomen white, the former spotted with brown.
Hind neck, back, and rump, dark brown, glossed with green and purple.
Wings as in the male, but the speculum less, and the secondaries externally
faint reddish-purple, the velvet black of the male diminished to a
few narrow markings. Tail dark brown, glossed with green; lower tailcoverts
pale greyish-brown, mottled with white; lower wing-coverts as in
the male.
Length 19^ inches.
The tree represented in the plate is the Platanus occidentalism which
in different parts of the United States is known by the names of Buttonwood,
Sycamore, Plane-tree, and Water Beech, and in Canada by that
of Cotton-tree. It is one of our largest trees, and on the banks of our
great western and southern rivers, often attains a diameter of eight or ten
feet. Although naturally inclined to prefer the vicinity of water, it grows
in almost every kind of situation, and thrives even in the streets of several
of our eastern cities, such as Philadelphia and New York.
( 63 )
THE BOOBY GANNET.
SULA FUSCA, BRISS.
PLATE CCVII. MALE.
As the Marion was nearing the curious islets of the Tortugas,, one of
the birds that more particularly attracted my notice was of this species.
The nearer we approached the land, the more numerous did they become,
and I felt delighted with the hope that ere many days should elapse, I
should have an opportunity of studying their habits. As night drew her
sombre curtain over the face of nature, some of these birds alighted on
the top-yard of our bark, and I observed ever afterwards that they manifested
a propensity to roost at as great a height as possible above the surrounding
objects, making choice of the tops of bushes, or even upright
poles, and disputing with each other the privilege. The first that was
shot at, was approached with considerable difficulty : it had alighted on
the prong of a tree which had floated and been fastened to the bottom of
a rocky shallow at some distance from shore; the water was about four
feet deep and quite rough ; sharks we well knew were abundant around
us; but the desire to procure the bird was too strong to be overcome by
such obstacles. In an instant, the pilot and myself were over the sides
of the boat, and onward we proceeded with our guns cocked and ready.
The yawl was well manned, and its crew awaiting the result. After we
had struggled through the turbulent waters about a hundred yards, my
companion raised his gun and fired ; but away flew the bird with a broken
leg, and we saw no more of it that day. Next day, however, at the same
hour, the Booby was seen perched on the same prong, where, after resting
about three hours, it made off to the open sea, doubtless in search of
food.
About eight miles to the north-east of the Tortugas Lighthouse, lies
a small sand-bar a few acres in extent, called Booby Island, on account
of the number of birds of this species that resort to it during the breeding
season, and to it we accordingly went. We found" it not more than
a few feet above the surface of the water, but covered with Boobies, which
lay basking in the sunshine, and pluming themselves. Our attempt to
land on the island before the birds should fly off, proved futile, for before