8 PELECANIDJE 



BEAK. Black, (except the base of the under segment, 

 which is yellow) ; hooked at the extremity ; throat-pouch 

 black, speckled with small round yellow spots. 



FEET. Black. 



IRIDES. Bright emerald-green. 



AVERAGE MEASUREMENTS. 



TOTAL LENGTH 27 in. Female smaller. 



WING 10-5 



BEAK ..., 2'5 



TARSO-METATARSUS ... 2'25 ,, 

 EGG 2-25 X T2 in. 



Allied Species and Representative Forms. P. desmaresti, 

 is the form which is found along the Mediterranean. 



A male American Darter, Plotus anhinga, supposed to 

 have been shot near Poole, Dorset, in June, 1851, has 

 been recorded by Bev. A. C. Smith. ( ' Zoologist,' 1852.) 



GANNET. Sula bassana (Linnaeus). 



Coloured Figures. Gould, Birds of Great Britain,' vol. v, pi. 54 ; 

 Dresser, ' Birds of Europe,' vol. vi, pi. 392 ; Lilford, 

 ' Coloured Figures,' vol. vii, pi. 3 ; Booth, ' Eough Notes,' 

 vol. iii, plates 26 to 31. 



Although belonging to the same family as the Cormo- 

 rant and Shag, with which it has close structural affinities, 

 notably in the foot, the four toes of which are connected by 

 a web, still the Gannet differs markedly in its habits of life. 

 Unlike the preceding species it seldom lands except to 

 breed, preferring to lead a wandering pelagic life. It is of 

 frequent occurrence around the British coasts, especially in 

 spring, when the birds are passing northward in consider- 

 able numbers to breed, and again in autumn on their 

 return journey southward. Away from its breeding-haunts 

 the Gannet is not gregarious, and single birds, or gather- 

 ings of two or three, are most frequently met with, though 

 I have seen large numbers fishing together. 



Flight. With its powerful lengthy pinions, and the 

 possession of large air-chambers under the skin (which 

 when inflated render the bird wonderfully buoyant), the 



