388 CLASS xvi. 



Sp. Plotus Anhinga L., BUFF. PI. enl. 959, 960, LESSON Ornith. PL 114, 

 fig. i ; from the south of North America, from South America, Surinam, 

 Brasil; Plotus Levaillantii TEMM., BUFF. PL enl. 107, TEMM. PI. col. 

 380, GuisR. Iconogr., Ois. PL 65, fig. i ; from Africa. The long neck looks 

 like a snake fastened to the body of a bird. These birds make their nests 

 in trees ; they swim and dive very well. 



Carlo LACEP., MEYER, Phalacrocorax BRISS., Halieus ILLIG., 

 Graculus (L. previously) GOULD. Bill compressed, moderate; upper 

 mandible hooked at the tip, lower mandible truncate. Nostrils 

 lateral, placed in a groove at the base of bill. Claw of middle toe 

 incised pectinately on the inner edge. Tibiae plumed down to the 

 joint. Outer toe longest of all. Tail rounded. 



Sp. Carbo cormoranus MEYEB, Pelecanus carlo L., BUFF. PL enl. 927, 

 LESS. Ornith. PL 115, fig. 2 ; common cormorant; Carbo graculus METER, 

 Carbo cristatus TEMM., Pelecanus graculus L., PL col. 322, NAUM. 280, 

 &c. The species of this genus are almost all coloured black, and on the 

 whole much resemble each other. It is the most numerous of this whole 

 order, and the most nearly allied with the preceding genus Plotus. On the 

 skull of these birds a small triangular pointed bone may be remarked, 

 which is moveably attached to the occiput. 



Tachypetes VIEILL., Atagen MOEHR., GRAY, Fregata'RAY, LAC. 

 (species of Pelecanus L., sp. of Sula BRISS.). Bill long, with the 

 tip of both mandibles curved, hooked. Nostrils linear, placed in 

 a groove at the base of bill, narrow. Feet short, semipalmate. 

 Tibise and upper part of tarsi covered with plumes ; tarsi very short. 

 Middle toe longer than outer, with claw pectinately incised inter- 

 nally. Wings pointed, very long. Tail long, forked. 



Sp. Tachypetes aquilus, Pelecanus Aquilus L., BUFF. PL enl. 961, LESS. 

 Ornith. PL 115, fig. i, GUR. Iconogr., Ois. PL 64, fig. 2; the frigate- 

 bird. This bird has a very large flight, and is seen at great distances from 

 land, especially between the tropics. Compare E. BARTON Observations 

 on the Nat. Hist, and Anat. of the Pelec. aquilus, Transact, of the Linn. Soc. 

 XII. 1822, pp. i 12. The humerus is more elongated than in Pelecanus, 

 and the radius and ulna are one-third longer than the humerus. 



Phaeton L. Bill moderate, cultrate, with margins finely incised. 

 Nostrils in base of bill, lateral, pervious. Wings pointed, long. 

 Feet palmate, short, with tibiae naked above the heel. Toes mode- 

 rate; hallux short. Tail with two middle quills very long, filiform, 

 with shaft subnude. 



The tropical birds by their rapid and high flight attract the attention of 

 mariners, whose ships they frequently accompany between the tropics. 



