572 MR. D. G. ELLIOT ON THE GENUS PELECANUS. [Noy. 25, 
all the species, excepting P. javanicus, are represented by a large 
number of individuals of various ages. I have also examined the 
specimens in the collections of the British and Paris Museums, as 
well as the living birds in the Gardens of this Society and in those 
of the Jardin des Plantes and Jardin d’Acclimatation of Paris. 
My conclusions are the result of patient investigation; yet I am 
fully aware that in some instances they may appear less satisfactory 
than might be desired ; this, however, in some degree, arises from 
the lack of necessary specimens of the different ages of one or two 
species to enable me to clear up some still uncertain points. 
If I shall succeed in drawing the attention of those whose oppor- 
tunities are better than my own to study the changes of plumage 
of those species still involved in some obscurity, and thus extend 
our knowledge of these interesting birds, my paper will not have 
been written in vain. 
Review of the Literature of the Genus. 
As far within the dim past as history gives to us any record, the 
birds of this genus have been observed and mentioned ; for we have 
good reason to suppose that the P. onocrotalus, the species most 
widely distributed and best known in the Old World to-day, was 
the “ Pelican of the wilderness”’ of Biblical times. 
All of the older authors mention the “ Pelican,’’ meaning to im- 
ply, probably, the common species just named above, although in 
many instances their descriptions could not be referred to that bird. 
Commencing with Linneus, the author of the binominal system 
now generally adopted, in the review of the literature of the genus, 
his great work claims first our attention. 
The tenth edition of the ‘ Systema Nature,’ being generally con- 
ceded to be the most complete, I have not deemed it advisable to 
refer to works prior to its date, notwithstanding that some excellent 
although, unfortunately, polynominalist authors flourished before the 
great Swede. 
(1758.) Linneus, ‘ Systema Nature.’ The genus Pelecanus, 
established by Linneeus in 1735, here contains only one species, the 
P. onocrotalus, according to our author’s ideas, although he adopts 
as synonymous the O. fuscus of Sloane, and the O. americanus of 
Edwards, both of which are distinct species of the New World. 
But thus far Linnzeus’s genus has but one species. 
(1760.) Brisson, ‘ Ornithologie.’ This author here establishes the 
genus Onoerotalus, with P. onocrotalus as his type, and cites the 
following as his species :—-O. albus (P. onocrotalus) ; O. mexicanus 
dentatus, which is the P. moline of Gray as it now stands; O. fuscus ; 
and O. philippensis, which is P. rufescens as now determined,— 
four species in all, being quite a step in advance of Linneeus’s list 
of two years previous. The descriptions given by Brisson are good, 
and the various species easily recognizable ; but so much cannot be 
said of the plates. 
(1785.) Pennant, ‘Arctic Zoology.’ This author gives no new 
