Catesby, Mark. Vol.I, Tab. 87, The Booby

Mark Catesby The Booby, Vol.I, Tab. 87 Etching with hand color 19" x 14" sheet From Volume I, Part 5 of Catesby's Natural History of Carolina, Florida & the Bahama Islands London: 1732 - 1771 Currently known as the booby, Sula leucogaster*, Catesby described this subject as follows: ANSERI BASSANO FUSCA AVIS. Sir Hans Sloane’s Hist. Jam. The Booby. The Bill is yellow, and bare of feathers; in which the Eyes are placed of a light gray colour; the lower part of the Bill is of a light brown. These Birds vary so, that they are not to be distinguished by their colours only: in one of them the Belly was white, and the Back brown; in another the Breast and Belly was brown; in others all brown; nor could I perceive any outward difference in the Cock and Hen. Their Wings are very long; their Legs and Feet pale yellow, and shap'd like those of Cormorants. They frequent the Bahama Islands, where they breed all months in the year. They lay one, two, and sometimes three eggs on the bare rocks.