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Brown Booby — from the Elephant Folio
Caption on plate: Booby Gannet
Drawn by John James Audubon, engraved by Robert Havell.
This
bird was painted in the Dry Tortugas on May 14, 1832. Lehman's background
is possibly Indian Key.
"I am unable to find a good reason for those who have chosen to call
these birds boobies. Authors, it is true, generally represent them as
extremely stupid; but to me the word is utterly inapplicable to any bird
with which I am acquainted. ... After my first visit to Booby Island in
the Tortugas, the Gannets had already become very shy and wary, and before
the Marion sailed away from those peaceful retreats of the wandering
sea-birds, the Boobies had become so knowing, that the most expert of
our party could not get within shot of them."
Reproductions
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