Page:Condor6(1).djvu/8

 Jan., t9o4 [ THE CONDOR 7 find down in the sandy bed of an old crater a nesting colony of these boobies. The air was extremely hot, and numerous skeletons scattered about showed a heavy mortality from some cause, possibly the heat; but more than likely they were of young birds, whose parents had ceased to feed them, and which were unable to rise out of the crater. So steep are the sides that the birds usually have to circle around in the crater several times before they can fly out. On Brattle Island, which is nothing but the rocky north side of an old crater, Neboux boobies nest in the sandy spots on top of the ridge, 90o feet high. where the wind keeps them cool during the nesting season. At Tagus Cove, Albemarle Island, we find then] with still different surroundings. Here they nest on narrow ledges on the cliffs a few feet above the water. We rowed over to a small colony one morning and I secured a few pictures at close range. In fact it vas necessarily very close for it --% VARIEGATED BOOBIES Al10 FRIGATE BIRD was all I could do to maintain my balance on the sliding rocks while I focused on the sitting birds. Matters were further complicated by an irate fen]ale, sitting just behind me, who wanted to puncture my legs every time I moved an inch or two in her direction. And this reminds me: to all picture-takers who contemplate visiting the Galapagts Islands I would strongly recommend the purchase of a good brand of cast-iron leggins. From my experience of three trips I am convinced they will be just the thing. They will save lots of bad words and tempers caused by unseen cactus spines that are always in ambush for the unwary, and I can tes- tify that on more than one occasion they would have saved me from some awful scars that frigate birds, boobies, and iguanas have given me. But to return to our Nebouxboobies. The amorous love song of the male is uttered in a spread eagle attitude that may cause the photographer to titter, but even so, I hope some