306 REMARKS ON THE GENUS SULA. 



dealing somewhat more in detail with those three speoies only 

 with which we are more especially concerned in India. 



The Boobies naturally divide into two sub-groups.* 



The first has only the lores, orbital region, base of aural 

 region, base of lower mandible, and a stripe down the middle 

 of the throat naked. 



This includes bassana, serrator (lefeorii if distinct) and 

 capensis. 



Of this sub-group we may dispose at once, as it in no way 

 concerns us : — 



1.— Sula bassana, Lin. 



This is the largest of the whole group, named from the Bass 

 Rocks, a celebrated breeding place of this, the Gannet or 

 Soland Goose. 



The entire plumage of the adult is white, except the primaries 

 and wing let which are dull black. Wing 18*20. 



Habitat, Europe, W. Coast of Africa, North America., &c. 



2.— Sula serrator, Banks. 



Was this name ever published ; if so, where ? This is also 

 australis, Gould, P. Z. S. 1840, 177, but this name cennot 

 stand as Stephens, Gen. Zool. XIII, 104, 1826, described 

 the Linnsean sula under this name. This species is said to be 

 rather smaller than bassana (but I have a specimen with wing 

 over 19), and has the whole of the quills and the four central 

 tail feathers blackish brown. 



Habitat, New Zealand, Australia, &c. 



2A. — Sula lefevrii, Baldamus. 



Bonaparte and others claim this as distinct ; it is the melanura 

 of many writers, but not of Temminck ; it is said to differ in 

 having the whole of the quills and entire tail black, and to have 

 occurred in Europe. 



3.— Sula capensis, Licht. 



This is the true melanura of Tern, and is a good deal smaller 

 than the preceding; wing 1625 to 18'5 ; it has all the quills, 



* The genus has by some been sub-divided into three genera — Dysporus, Illiger ; 

 Sula, Vieill ; and Piscatrix, Reich. I can see no necessity as yet for sub-dividing the 

 genus, but I have only specimens (and only one or two of each) of bassana, serrator, cya- 

 nops, piscatrix. and australis. and for all I know it may be right to sub-divide the genus, 

 but what I fail to understand is how Bonaparte and others apply Illiger's Disporus 

 to the Linnoeau sula, reserving the generic name Sula for bassana and other species. 

 4~ / The genus Sula of Brisson clearly has for its type the Linnsean Sula, the Sula of 

 Vieillot seems to be founded on Brisson's/wsca, which whatever it may be (and of that 

 hereafter) is certainly neither bassana nor of the bassana type. On the other, Illiger's 

 type seems to_have been bassana. 



