Page:Condor6(1).djvu/9

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8 THE CONDOR I VOL. VI one will take the time to snap it in several different poses for I intend to mount one in that attitude some day and will need photographic evidence that it is not a purely theoretical position. The manner in which he lifts his feet and puts then] down in the same place, with swaying, downcast head and a suggestion of being a bold, bad individual is worthy of prolonged effort to reproduce. Another excel- lent subject is a large flock of Neboux boobies diving in unison for fish. This picture can be easily obtained on a little bay in Albemarle Island and I shall al- ways be sorry that linfited time prevented me from getting it while we were anchored there. The variegated booby, a larger bird than Sula neboztxi is an easy subject for the photographer as it nests usually on the edge of high cliffs above the ocean. Sometimes a refractory bird proves obdurate and leaves much to be guessed at in the picture, but often the expenditure of a little time and patience yields abundant fruit. I recall one instance when I wanted a picture showing different ages and plumages. The half grown booby that I wanted particularly with a pleasant ex- pression on his face, w-as very troublesome. After getting the camera placed and NEBOUX BOOBY properly focused showing an old bird and her downy young I started to pose the youngster who didn't want his picture 'took.' I fu?sed and fumed while he con- tinually hopped and moved around everywhere but the right place. Once he got too near the old lady on the nest and she proceeded to chastise him in a manner that afforded me infinite satisfaction. After being thoroughly mauled by her he managed to struggle up on his perch but even then he disdained to turn his face toward the camera and I had to take the back of his head. During the fracas the camera was slightly moved and failed to get in the whole of an interested fri- gate bird that I wished to show owing to her proximity to the nesting booby. The young booby being fed is a subject I did not get, the camera always being on ship- board when I saw the process, but still bt-tter than this will be the picture of an old pelican feeding its two or three young. Perhaps some one in America has al ready obtained pictures of this seemingly suicidal operation for the pelican is much commoner there than in the Galapagos. Webster boobies (Sula websterO nest entirely in bushes and trees on the Galap- agos Islands and pictures showing all phases of their life are readily obtained. An