SULID^E. CXXXI. 225 



c. Tarsus moderate, much longer than hind toe with claw. 

 d. Bill compressed; gular sac small. . . PHALACROCORACID^E, 133. 

 dd. Bill much flattened ; gular sac very large. . PELECANID^E, 134. 

 cc. Tarsus extremely short, not longer than hind toe with claw; wings 

 and tail excessively long, the latter deeply forked. 



FREGATID.B, 135. 



FAMILY CXXXI. SULID^l. (THE GANNETS.) 



Bill long, cleft to beyond eyes, very stout at base, the tip not 

 hooked, the tomia irregularly serrate ; a nasal groove, but the nos- 

 tril abortive ; gular sac small, naked ; wings long, pointed ; tail 

 long and stiff, with pointed feathers ; feet stout. Body heavy, 

 similar to that of a goose, the tissues under the skin with air- 

 chambers as in the Pelicans. One genus with 5 or 6 species. 

 Gregarious sea-birds, found in most regions. 



344. SULA Brisson. (French, Sule.) 

 a. Lower jaw, chin and throat densely feathered. (Dyspoitis.) 



678. S. bassana L. GANNET. White, black on wings ; yellow- 

 ish on head ; young dark brown, spotted. L. 36. W. 20. T. 10. 

 B. 6. N. Atl., S. to Florida, common N. (Eu.) (From Bass 

 Rock, Eng., where Gannets breed.) 



FAMILY CXXXII. ANHINGIDJB- (THE DARTERS.) 



Bill very long, straight, slender, sharp, the tomia finely serrate ; 

 gular sac small, naked ; nostrils minute, becoming obsolete ; tail long, 

 stiff, fan-shaped, when spread, the feathers broad, the middle pair 

 in the adult transversely corrugated. Neck long, very slender, the 

 vertebrae (20 in number) of peculiar structure; feet short, far 

 back. A single genus, with 3 or 4 species ; swift, wary birds, their 

 movements in the water resembling those of a snake. 



345. ANHINGA Brisson. (Port., anhina ; Lat., anguina, snaky.) 



679. A. anhinga(L.). DARTER. SNAKE-BIRD. WATER TUR- 

 KEY. Chiefly black, with greenish lustre above ; neck with hair- 

 like plumes ; 9 largely buffy, back with pale streaks. L. 35. W. 

 14. T. 11. B. 3. Tropical Am., N. to S. 111. 



FAMILY CXXXIII. PHALACRO COR ACID JE. (THE 

 CORMORANTS.) 



Bill slender, about as long as head, nearly terete, but compressed, 

 strongly hooked, the cutting edges uneven ; gular pouch small. 

 Wings short ; tail very large, almost scansorial, of very stiff feath- 

 ers, often used as a support for the body ; legs set far back ; a 

 nasal groove with abortive nostrils. Colors in both sexes lustrous, 

 iridescent black ; in the breeding season usually with long, white, 



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