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SULA. GANNET. 



The Gannets, although essentially organised like the 

 Cormorants, are in many respects very different from them in 

 external appearance, in the proportions of their parts, and in 

 their habits. Their body is of an oval, rather elongated 

 form ; the neck of moderate length, and very thick ; the head 

 large. 



Bill longer than the head, opening beyond the eyes, coni- 

 cal, moderately compressed ; upper mandible with the ridge 

 very broad, convex, separated by grooves from the sides, 

 which are slightly convex, and erect, with a slender addi- 

 tional piece at the base, the edges sharp, direct, irregularly 

 jagged with numerous small incisions directed backAvards, the 

 tip a little dccurved, compressed, and rather acute; lower 

 mandible with the angle extremely long and narrow, the 

 sides convex, the edges direct, sharp, and jagged, the tip com- 

 pressed and acute. There is a small gular sac, of which a 

 part is bare. 



The mouth wide ; the palate fiat, and ridged. Tongue 

 extremely small, obtuse ; oesophagus extremely wide, much 

 dilated at the lower part ; the proventricular glands form a 

 broad belt, partially divided. Stomach extremely small and 

 thin ; intestine of moderate length, slender, with very small 

 coeca. 



Nostrils obliterated. Eyes rather small, surrounded and 

 preceded by a bare space. Aperture of ears small. Feet 

 short, placed rather far behind ; tibia concealed ; tarsus very 

 short, sharp behind, scaly, with three lines of small scutella 

 continued on the toes. First toe rather small, directed in- 

 wards and forwards, third toe longest; all connected by mem- 

 branes ; claws slightly arched, that of the third pectinate on 

 the expanded inner edge. 



