400 Synopsis of (he Birds 



membrane broad, full, entire : nails falculate ; the middle one 

 with its edge entire or pectinated. Wings moderate, ample • 

 second primary longest; secondaries reaching to the prima- 

 ries. Tail rounded, of twenty feathers. 



Female similar to the male. Young differing greatly from 

 the adult for a long period. Moult annually. Plumage short, 

 very thick and close. Colors white or cinereous. Size ex- 

 ceedingly large ; largest of the Family. 



Live near w ater, either fresh or salt. Fly for long periods, 

 reaching the highest regions of the atmosphere. Swim and 

 dive admirably. Alight on the branches of trees, grasping 

 firmly. Feed on fishes, which they catch with great adroit- 

 ness, and keep in their gular pouch, emptjing it by degrees 

 as the digestion proceeds. Exceedingly voracious : consu- 

 ming at a single meal more than six men. Rise sometimes 

 to a great height, sometimes skimming the surface of the 

 water, or balancing at a moderate elevation, and pouncing 

 headlong with a loud noise and great agitation of the water : 

 fishing in the morning and evening until their large bag is 

 quite full, then retiring to a large rock or tree, to eat and di- 

 gest at ease : when wishing to disgorge a fish, press their bag 

 against their breast, hence fabulously said to feed their young 

 by tearing their own body. Often uniting in great numbers 

 to chase more successfully, encircling and beating a large 

 piece of water, employing different stratagems to frighten the 

 fish into a restricted space, where they seize them. Breed 

 on rocks near water, nest fiat on the ground, deep, lined with 

 soft weeds : eggs from two to four. Affectionate parents. 

 Sight keen, discerning their prey from a great elevation. 

 Voice hoarse, powerful. 



Spread all over the warm and temperate regions of the 

 globe, even one of the species. Formed of five species. 



351. Pelecakus onocrotalus, L. Middle nail entire; prima- 

 ries black ; first much longer than the fifth. 



Adult white tinged with rose color ; a slender crest. 



