BIRDS. 251 



mandible, yet the Booby offers an exception, in favour 

 of Berkenhout's remark, and opposed to the assertion 

 of Blumenbach. After a most patient examination 

 of the beak of all the kinds of Booby enumerated above, 

 I am compelled to declare that there is not the slightest 

 appearance of an external nostril; although the pala- 

 tine opening of the nasal cavity, or inner nostril, is well 

 developed. There is a small slit, or notch, on the in- 

 ferior margin of the upper mandible, and which I sup- 

 posed might be a nasal aperture ; but upon removing the 

 horny sheath of the beak, it appeared confined to that 

 structure, and the exposed bone was impervious. 



As a provision for swallowing fish entire, the mouth 

 and gullet are capable of great expansion, and the 

 upper mandible of the beak moves freely at its junc- 

 tion with the cranium. The tongue, though large in 

 many sea-fowl, is in this bird rudimental, and remark- 

 ably small. The skeleton of the Booby differs also 

 from the more normal structure of birds, in possessing 

 a perfect bony patella, or knee-pan, independent of the 

 elevated process of the tibia, which usually supplies its 

 place in aquatic birds. But this is not uncommon 

 with oceanic tribes, and equally obtains in the frigate- 

 bird and petrels. 



NOTES ON THE ALBATROSS FAMILY. 

 (Diomedia.) 



As the number of individuals composing the Al- 

 batross family is yet uncertain and involved in some 

 obscurity, I may be permitted to conclude my orni- 

 thological remarks with a brief notice of the several 

 species of this bird usually met with during a 

 southern voyage, and with the description of a kind 

 which appears to be new. 



