M. Sundevall on the Birds of Calcutta. 235 



104. Dysporus piscator, 111. — Pelec. piscator, L., Lath. Sula Can- 

 dida, Briss. (adulta). P. sula, L. et Auct. (diagnosis e juniori hujus 

 sp., sed synonymia et descriptio sunt alius speciei). 



Gula nuda ; rostro tenuiore, apice curvato, facie pedibusque rubris ; 

 Cauda acuta. 



Vetus fere totus albus, dorso pure colorato. Remiges et rectrices 

 nigro-fupcae. Facies, rostrum et pedes corallino-rubra. Ala360millim., 

 cubitus 200, Cauda 200, cetera ut sequ. Media; cetatis ? albus, dorso 

 toto, alis caudaque fusco-cinereis, plumis sparsis albidis sordidisve. 

 Alarum tectrices prsesertim albo-variae. Pectus ad latera pallide 

 fuscum. Remiges et rectrices obscure fuscescentes. Rostrum apice 

 fuscum. Ala 320 millim., cubitus fere 200, cauda 190, tarsus 30, 

 digitus medius cum ungue QQ, rostrum e plica frontis 80, efauce 110, 

 altit. baseos 27. 



Junior pallide fusco-cinerascens, jugulo pectoreque dilutioribus, 

 ventre albido. Corpus superne, prajsertim in alis, plumis albidis et 

 obscuris maculatum. Facies et pedes sordide rubicundi. 



Vix duo colore perfecte similes invenies. Etiam dimensiones paullo 

 variabiles. Rostrum e basi sensim angustatum, apice sutura sat cur- 

 vata. Facies late nuda, limite plumata non ad fauces angulata, sed 

 gulam nudam circulariter ambiente. Rectrices 2^ poll, excedunt 

 alas ; minus rigidse, mediae apice acutse. 



The species of Dysporus are mucli like each other, and remark- 

 ably distinguished from other allied forms. The genus Phaeton 

 approaches them the nearest. They are sea-birds which only 

 approach cliffy sterile shores to breed, but which are otherwise 

 chiefly seen far from the land, often in the midst of the ocean, in 

 regions where the water is not very deep, as on banks of 20 to 

 100 fathoms, where they have access to fish and Crustacea. They 

 fly almost incessantly, but heavily, with their somewhat long neck 

 stretched out, in a straight line but not rapidly, and flap their 

 wings considerably, by which they are easily distinguished from 

 albatroses and petrels, which have a remarkably smooth flight, 

 with the outstretched wings almost motionless. The Gannets 

 which I saw, frequently look behind them during flight like the 

 Tropic-birds. 



D. piscator is very common in the Indian Ocean, between 

 10° N. and 10° S. i have but seldom seen it beyond these limits, 

 and never near the Cape or in the Atlantic, where other species 

 occur. I saw one in May as far up as the Bengal coast. Gray, 

 white, or spotted individuals are found mixed together at all sea- 

 sons, at least such was the case when 1 crossed the region where 

 they occur. In November and December they were seen in flocks ; 

 in June and July they were solitary or in pairs. The food con- 

 sists of fish, which they catch by plunging. They commonly fly 

 eight or ten ells above the sea. Like Sterna stolida this species 

 is known by its stupidity, and by the boldness with which they 



17* 



