296 NEW-YORK FAUNA BIRDS. 



The American Gannet has, until recently, been considered as identical with the European 

 species. I have had no apportunity of making a direct comparison between these two closely 

 allied species. I supposed them indeed to be identical when I visited the Bass-rock in the 

 Frith of Forth in 1818, and rely for the separation upon Charles Bonaparte. 



Our Gannet breeds from the Gulf of St. Lawrence northwardly, and ranges along the 

 coast to the Gulf of Mexico. 



(EXTRA-LIMITAL.) 



S.fusca, Briss. (Aud. B. of A. Vol. 7, p. 57, pi. 426.) Booby. Head, neck and all above dusky 

 brown ; abdomen white ; face, bill and feet yellow. Tail long, wedge-shaped. Length, 31 inches. 

 Georgia and southwardly. Occasionally farther north. 



Genus Tachypetes, Vieillot. Bill longer than the head, strong, entire, with a suture close by the 



ridge. Both mandibles bent downwards ; the upper with a notch near the tip. Nostrils basal, 



linear, elongated, and placed in the groove. Tarsus half feathered. Toes connected by deeply 



emarginated webs. Wings very long and pointed. Tail long, deeply forked. 



T. aquilus, Lin. (Aud. lb. Vol. 7, p. 9, pi. 421.) Frigate-bird. Man-of-war-bird. Brownish purple, 



iridescent, reflecting green and golden bronze. Tail brown; shafts white. Throat orange. Length, 



41 inches. Breeds from Florida Keys southwardly. 



Genus Plotus, Linnceus. Bill longer than the head, slender, pointed, finely serrated obliquely at the 



point. Nostrils basal, and concealed in the groove. Tarsus partly feathered above. Neck 



very long. All the toes united by a full membrane. Tail long, spreading and much rounded. 



P. anhinga, Lin. (Aud. lb. Vol. 6, p. 443, pi. 420.) Snake-bird. Darter. Male: neck and back 



greenish black ; quills and tail brownish black ; sides of the neck, secondaries and wing-coverts 



marked with white. Female : head, neck and breast reddish brown ; belly brownish black. 



Length, 35*0. North Carolina southwardly. 



Genus Photon, Linncms. Bill as long as the head, stout, compressed, curved above; margins 



obliquely serrated. Nostrils basal, concave, pervious, half closed by a membrane. Head 



and throat wholly feathered. Feet short. Tibia partly feathered. Tarsus naked, shorter 



than the second toe. Tail wedge-shaped ; the two middle feathers excessively elongated. 



P. cethereus, Lin. (Aud. lb. Vol. 7, p. 64, pi. 427.) White varied with black: bill and feet yellow; 



webs black. Central tail-feathers white with a roseate tinge, 19-0 long ; their shafts black. Total 



length, 30*0. Florida southwardly. 



