BOOBY, Sula _Tuna, a species of gannet (q.v.) which has received this name from its apparent stupidity in allowing itself to be knocked down with a stick or taken by the hand. Accounts differ very much, however, as to this character of the 13., some repre senting it as singular in not taking alarm or becoming more wary even when it has had reason to apprehend danger from man; others, as Audubon, asserting in such it inanner as apparently to place it beyond dispute, that it does learn to be upon its guard, and even becomes difficult to approach within reach of shot. The B. is not quite so large as its congener, the common gannet or solan-goose, and, like it, is a bird of powerful wing, and feeds on fish, which it takes by diving in the sea, observing its prey as it sweeps along the graceful and varying flight, sometimes at a height of only it foot or two from the surface of the water, sometimes 20 yards above it, and plunging suddenly to seize it. It is sometimes taken, like the gannet, by means of a fish fastened to it board, through which it drives its hill, as it dashes at the bait. The 13. is of a blackish-brown color, whitish beneath; its colors are subject to some variation, and in youna. birds a general browu color prevails; the sexes differ very little, except that the female is not quite so large as the male. It is found on almost all tropical and sub-tropical shores, and some
times even 200 m. from land. On the e. coast of _North America, it reaches about as far n. as cape Hatteras, off is much more abundant further s., great numbers breeding oar the low islands off the coast of Florida. The nest is often placed upon it low bush, and large and flat, formed of a few dry sticks, covered and matted with sea-weeds to great quantity." It contains only one egg or young one at a time. The expansibility of the gullet enables the B. to swallow fishes of considerable size. The bill, which is straight, conical, and longer than the head, opens beyond the eyes. as in the rest of this genus. The 13. is much persecuted by the frigate bird (q.v.) and inan-of-•ar bird (q.v.). more powerful birds and of swifter flight than itself, which often compel it to disgorge for their use the prey which it has just swallowed. The flesh of the B., although some times eaten by sailors, is dark-colored, and not very agreeable. Bligh and his com Impious, in his long boat-voyage, found one or two which they captured a providential supply of food.