that connect the Orders and Families of Birds. 505 



Frigate Bird of our cabinets. The manners of this last bird I 

 have discussed somewhat at large at the commencement of this 

 inquiry, as well as the various particulars by which it de- 

 viates from the type of the Nataiores, in conjunction with the 

 greater portion of the present family. I shall not therefore dwell 

 upon the subject any further than to mention its intimate and 

 acknowledged connexion with the genus Phaeton, both in habits 

 and general economy. In these particulars, as well as in the length 

 of their wings and their extended powers of flight, these two 

 groups evince a near alliance with the family of Laridce which 

 succeeds, and from which they can only be separated in conse- 

 quence of their syndactyle foot. The genus Plottis, united by its 

 bill to Phaeton, leads back to the earlier groups of the Pelicanida, 

 with which, though it differs from thejm by the straightness of 

 the bill, it agrees in manners and general organization. 



The Phaeton of the last family bears a considerable resemblance 

 in general appearance and habits to the Sterna, Linn, of that 

 upon which we now enter. The before-mentioned construction 

 of their foot alone effects a separation between them. Even here, 

 however, we may observe the gradation that exists between the 

 feet of the two families ; the web that unites the toes of the Tro- 

 pic, as well as of the Frigate Bird, is but half the size of that of the 

 Pelecanida in general; and thus their foot preserves a connexion 

 with that of the Terns, where the same membrane is equally con- 

 tracted. We thus enter the family of Laridce, by means of Sterna, 

 with which Rhynchops, Linn, most intimately accords in habits 

 and external characters, notwithstanding the dissimilitude of the 

 bill. The Sterna Anglica, or gull-billed Tern of Col. Montague, 

 conducts us from these genera to the groups which compose the 

 Linnean Larus, now justly subdivided into two genera, the Les- 

 tris, 111. , and Larus of authors. From this group we are led to the 

 genera Diomedea, Linn., and Haladroma, 111., which are charac- 

 ijili'j terized 



