_Sula fusca._
_Pelecanus sula_, +Linn.+—Aud. pl. 207.
_Sula fusca_, +Briss.+
[130] Length 29 inches, expanse 58, flexure 14³⁄₄, tail 7³⁄₄,
rictus 4⁸⁄₁₀, tarsus 1¹⁄₂, middle toe 3.
The trees described in the preceding article as constituting the
lodging place of the Pelicans, are frequented also, though less
regularly, by a considerable number of these Boobies. They usually
huddle together, in little groups, sitting closely side by side, so
that four and five may frequently be brought down at a shot.
I have invariably found the stomachs of those thus obtained, quite
empty, and as the Frigate-birds assemble on the same trees, I
conjecture that the Boobies examined had been compelled to disgorge the
prey they had taken, by the assaults of their powerful neighbours: to
avoid whose attacks, probably, they took refuge on the trees. As they
sit, they frequently utter a loud croaking cackle.
One which was disabled, manifested great ferocity, striking forcibly
with the opened beak, endeavouring to pierce with its very acute
points, as well as to cut with its keen saw-like edges. It had the
sagacity to neglect a stick presented, and strike at the hand that held
it; and my fingers could testify to the lacerating power of their
formidable weapon.
The tails of all the specimens that fell into my hands, were much worn
at the extremity; probably from incubation on the rocks. The use of
the very singular pectination of the middle toe, was indicated, by
its being choked up in each one with down. The great length of the
body in these birds is particularly observable when the integuments
are removed. In one specimen, I found lying among the folds of the
intestines, a tape-worm, about three feet in length.
* * * * *
The above is the only _Sula_ that we know anything of, about the
coast of Westmoreland; but Mr. Hill has identified three others from
the Pedro Kays, some of which appear to frequent the little Kays of
the coast near Kingston. I believe they are the _Sula fiber_, or
drab-coloured Booby, _S. piscator_, or White Booby, and _S. parva_, or
Black and white Booby. Of this last Mr. Hill has a pair domesticated,
of whose habits he has favoured me with the following pleasing notes.
“The sympathy shewn by gregarious birds for their wounded companions
is usually never more strongly manifested than in the Boobies. In the
wanton sport of shooting at them when sailing past the kays and islets
they resort to, there are few who have not witnessed the extraordinary
efforts made by the clamorous flock to assist a wounded bird, when
fluttering in the water, and unable to regain the wing. An accident
which happened to one of the two Boobies we have in our yard, gave us
an opportunity of seeing traits of this feeling, and of its attendant
emotions. My little nephew, in chasing with a small whip one of our
birds, entangled the lash about its wing, and snapped the arm-bone.
The one bird not alone shewed sympathy for the other, but exhibited
curiosity about the nature and character of the accident. Our two birds
are male and female. The wounded Booby withdrew into a lonely part of
the yard, and stood there drooping. The female sought him as soon as
she heard his cry of agony, and after ascertaining, by surveying him
all round, that the injury was in the wing, proceeded to prevail on him
to move the limb, that she might see whether he was really disabled
beyond the power of using it for flight. After a quacking _honk_ or
two, as a call to do something required of him, the female stretched
out one of her wings;—the wounded male imitated her, and, making an
effort, moved out, in some sort of way, the wounded member to its
full length. He was now required by a corresponding movement to raise
it:—he raised the broken arm, but the wing could not be elevated. The
curiosity of the female was at a standstill. After a moment’s pause,
her wounded companion was persuaded to make another trial at imitation,
and to give the wings some three or four good flaps. He followed the
given signal, gave the required beats upon the air with so thorough a
good will, to meet the wishes of his curious mate, that he twirled
the broken wing quite round, and turned it inside out. The mischief
was prodigiously increased. It was now necessary to put a stop to this
process of investigation of the one bird into the misfortune of the
other. I came in just as these exhibitions had occurred, and taking up
the bird with its twisted wing, I was obliged after setting the limb,
to restrain him from any further gratification of his mate’s curiosity
by tying the wing into place, and keeping it so tied, till the bone
united. The one now attended the other, and carefully examined, day
after day, the broken limb. Calling on him to make an occasional effort
to raise the disabled and immovable member, she used her ineffectual
endeavours to persuade him to lift it, though tied, by lifting her own
from time to time.
“Though this fellow-feeling was so strongly and so remarkably
manifested with regard to the broken wing,—when feeding together, the
abler female did not hesitate to take advantage of her greater agility,
by snatching away from her mate his share of victuals, and grappling
with him for one and the same piece of meat. Instinct seems to exhibit
simple, not complex emotions. If the male bird had been utterly unable
to feed himself, the female would, possibly, herself have supplied him
with food:—but, able to eat, the undivided passion was the feeding
appetite; and the instinctive habit of striking at the prey, and
grabbing it, was not capable of restraint, or of any modification
whatever.
“The Booby has an uncontrollable predilection for elevated spots as
perching places. If a single stone be higher than others in the yard,
the Booby’s eye perceives it, and there he takes up his station, and
stands, when he has fed, and is satisfied. If a log or a bundle of
wood lie about, he mounts it, and perches upon it to sun himself,
extending his wings over his tail, and erecting his dorsal feathers
for the admission of the genial beams of morning. He roosts upon
similar vantage spots, generally on the tops of the triangular coops
in which are kept our fattening poultry. He has great prehensile power
with his foot; and his serrated middle-toe is frequently applied to
scratch the naked skin about his eyes and face. Our birds are fonder
of flesh meats, such as beef and pork, than of fish. They dislike fat,
and generally reject it, if it be given separately from the lean. They
never drink, and are just as regardless of the water about the yard, as
if they had been as unadapted for it, as hens and turkeys.”[131]
[131] The following note I received from my friend, since the
above was prepared for the press. “My male Booby died the other
day. I found animalcules in the liver. Its anatomy exhibited, in a
remarkably interesting manner, the fine adaptation for the purposes
of buoyancy, detailed by Professor Owen in the dissection of the
kindred Gannet. The muscles showed the air-vessels interspersed
among them, in a manner altogether surprising. They had the
appearance, as he expresses it, of being dissected. The bird, in
the act of expiring, had almost entirely discharged the air from
about the chest; but very considerable inflation still subsisted
in the thighs. The large femoral muscle might be said to be almost
entirely detached from the enveloping integument. The septa of the
cells seemed alone to attach it to the adjacent flesh. There was
no adhesion, but along one of its edges.” The cells were strongly
united to the skin; and the roots of the feathers protruded into
the internal cavities, as if they grew out of nothing. The cells
must have performed their office with marvellous readiness, for the
nerves were easily traceable among them. The air-vessels were like
so many colourless bubbles.
“The bird had died during the night by the side of the coop on
which they both usually roosted, but without attempting to perch.
As I removed the dead bird before the other Booby had quitted its
morning roost, it was interesting to see it, under a sense of
loneliness, running its head into every opened door, to seek its
lost companion.”