418 Mr. N. A. Vigors 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 Linnaeus an evidently approaching 

 affinity to those birds whose feet are formed for grasping. The 

 greater part of this familj?^, 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 prey+. And I cannot here pass over the striking cir- 

 cumstance of the Cormorant having been formerly used for fish- 

 ing.]:, 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 maxima, arborihus 

 itmdent in Usque nidificant, teste du Tertres in Hist. Nat. Ins. Antill., quod et Corvi 

 aquatici et Graculus palmipes, nostra experientid, faciunt, et reliquae fortasse hujus 

 generis aves." — Raii Sj/n. p. 122. " Ces Oiseaux (lesCormorans) sont excellens na- 

 geurs : quoique tous les doigts se trouvent engages dans une meme membrane, ils sont 

 dou6s d'un moyen de prehension trfes-extraordinaire dans des oiseaux k pieds palm^s, 

 eu 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 malgr6 celte 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. 



■f " Gesner reports that the feet do sometimes serve them (the Cormorants) to catch 

 thejish." — Pitjield, 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. 



X See Penn. Brit. Zool. vol. ii. p. 283. ed. 8vo. 1812.; and Willoughbj/, Orn. p. 329. 



Tachypetes, 



