8 PELECANIDA 
BEAK. Black, (except the base of the under segment, 
which is yellow); hooked at the extremity; throat-pouch 
black, speckled with small round yellow spots. 
FEET. Black. 
IrIDEs. Bright emerald-green. 
AVERAGE MEASUREMENTS. 
TOTAL LENGTH ... Shae PA in. Female smaller. 
WING es ae el Oar twee 
BEAK nae a? wa ie ai. 
T'ARSO-METATARSUS see Ve 
Kee ee ne 28.2 2a in 
Allied Species and Representative Forms.—P. desmarestt, 
is the form which is found along the Mediterranean. 
A male American Darter, Plotus anhinga, supposed to 
have been shot near Poole, Dorset, in June, 1851, has 
been recorded by Rev. A. C. Smith. (‘ Zoologist,’ 1852.) 
GANNET. Sula bassana (Linneus). 
Coloured Figures. —Gould, ‘ Birds of Great Britain,’ vol. v, pl. 54; 
Dresser, ‘Birds of Europe,’ vol. vi, pl. 392; Lilford, 
‘Coloured Figures,’ vol. vii, pl. 3; Booth, ‘ Rough Notes,’ 
vol. ili, plates 26 to 31. 
Although belonging to the same family as the Cormo- 
rant and Shag, with which it has close structural affinities, 
notably in the foot, the four toes of which are connected by 
a web, still the Gannet differs markedly in its habits of life. 
Unlike the preceding species it seldom lands except to 
breed, preferring to lead a wandering pelagic life. It is of 
frequent occurrence around the British coasts, especially in 
spring, when the birds are passing northward in consider- 
able numbers to breed, and again in autumn .on their 
return journey southward. Away from its breeding-haunts 
the Gannet is not gregarious, and single birds, or gather- 
ings of two or three, are most frequently met with, though 
I have seen large numbers fishing together. 
Flight.—With its powerful lengthy pinions, and the 
possession of large air-chambers under the skin (which 
when inflated render the bird wonderfully buoyant), the 
