418 Mr. N. A. Vicors on the Natural Affinities 
what has been before observed between the other orders. It is 
naturally to be supposed that those oceanic birds, which are 
likely to approach most closely to the raptorial tribes, are to be 
found among the extremes of the Natatores. And in tracing the 
gradations by which the natatorial families recede from those 
which may be considered typical of the order, we may perceive 
in the genus Pelecanus of Linnzus an evidently approaching 
affinity to those birds whose feet are formed for grasping. The 
greater part of this family, although generally resorting when on 
land to rocky sea-shores, and forming their nests among rocks, 
are yet occasionally accustomed both to perch and incubate 
among trees*. Unlike all the other webfooted tribes, they are 
equally asserted to make use of their feet in laying hold of 
their preyt. And I cannot here pass over the striking cir- 
cumstance of the Cormorant having been formerly used for fish- 
ingł, in a similar manner to that in which hawks are used 
by falconers on land; and of a species of the family, the 
P. Sinensis, being trained by the Chinese for the same pur- 
pose. In two genera of this family, the Phaeton, Linn., and the 
* « Quamvis palmipedes sunt (sc. Onocrotali) et mole corporis maximá, arboribus 
insident in iisque nidificant, teste du Tertres in Hist. Nat. Ins. Antill., quod et Corvi 
aquatici et Graculus palmipes, nostrd experientid, faciunt, et relique fortasse hujus 
generis aves."— Rai Syn. p. 122. * Ces Oiseaux (les Cormorans) sont excellens na- 
geurs: quoique tous les doigts se trouvent engagés dans une méme membrane, ils sont 
doués d'un moyen de prehension trés-extraordinaire dans des oiseaux à pieds palmés, 
en ce qu’ils perchent souvent sur les arbres." —Temminck, Man. d Ornith. p.890. ** La 
famille de Totipalmes a cela de remarquable, que leur pouce est reuni avec les autres 
doigts dans une seule membrane, et malgré cette organisation qui fait de leurs pieds 
des rames plus parfaites, presque seuls parmi les palmipedes, ils se perchent sur les 
arbres.” —Cuvier, Regne Anim. i. 522. 
t “ Gesner reports that the feet do sometimes serve them (the Cormorants) to catch 
the fish.” —Pitfield, Nat. Hist. of Animals, p. 135. “ In passing, he (the Frigate Bird) 
takes up the little fish either with his bill or talons.” — Albin, iii. 75. 
t See Penn. Brit. Zool. vol. ii. p. 283. ed. 8vo. 1812.; and Willoughby, Orn. p. 529. 
Tachypetes, 
