STEGANOPODES : CORMORANTS, ETC. 203 



The Gannets or Sulidse are sea-birds which are goose- 

 like in their appearance, and which are remarkable for 

 obtaining their prey consisting of fishes by plunging 

 into the water from a considerable height. 



The Pelicans or Pelicanidas are very large birds, re- 

 markable for their enormously long and large bill, which 

 is a foot or more in length, and for their enormous gular 

 pouch, which in some species will hold a gallon ! The 

 gular pouch is used by the bird as a fish-net to scoop up 

 fish with. 



The Cormorants or Graculidse have a very long bill, 

 strongly hooked at the end, green eyes, long neck, com- 

 pact body, and legs set far back. They swim under water 

 in pursuit of fishes, upon which they feed. 



The Snake-birds or Anhirigas or Plotidre have a lono- 



O O 



slender bill, an exceedingly long and slender neck, and a 

 rather slender body. A single species about three feet 

 lono; is common in the Southern States. 



O 



The Frigate or Man-of-war Birds or Tachypetidse are sea- 

 birds remarkable for their long bill, exceedingly long and 

 pointed wings, long and forked tail, small feet, and for 

 their wonderful power of flight. They are about three 

 feet long, and have an extent of wings about eight feet. 



SUB-SECTION XIV. 



THE ORDER OF LONGIPENNES OR LONG-WINGED 



SWIMMERS. 



GULLS, Terns, Albatrosses, Petrels, etc., are the birds 

 which constitute the order of Longipennes or Long-winged 



