886 Birds of Celebes: Phalacrocoracidae. 



The Frigate-bird is perhaps the finest liyer among birds, and those, who 

 have watched them in nature, have much that is interesting to say about their 

 magnificent evolutions on the wing, and their densely crowded breeding islands. 

 They feed on fish and other marine animals, often harassing other sea-birds and 

 causing them to disgorge their prey. 



FAMILY PHALACROCORACIDAE. 



Toes fully webbed, the outermost one the longest, much longer than the 

 tarsus, claw of middle toe pectinated; plumage generally dark and glossy above; 

 wings rather short, reaching to about the base of the tail; tail moderately long 

 and stiff, usually rounded, 12 or 14 feathers, upper tail-coverts short; neck long; 

 nostrils wanting. The Darters and Cormorants are best distinguished from other 

 Stega7iopodes by the outer toe being considerably the longest, and by their short 

 wings and stiff tails. 



GENUS PDOTUS L. 



The Darters differ from the Cormorants chietiy by the straight slender bill, 

 with the tomia furnished with long serrations directed backwards; by the ex- 

 tremely long neck, which is as long or longer than the body; and by the absence 

 of any appreciable pouch on the upper throat. The genus is represented by 

 four species in the warm parts of America, Africa, and Asia to Australia. 



f 376. PLOTUS MELANOGASTER (Penu.). 



Indian Darter. 



a. AnMnga melanogaster (I) Penn., Ind. Zool. 1781, p. 13, pi. XDI; (2) Newt., Str. F. 1879, 

 IX, 415; (3) Hartert, J. f. 0. 1891, 302. 



Plgtns melanogaster (1) Gm., S. N. 1788, I, 580, pt.; (2) Lath., Ind. Orn. 1790, 11, 865; 

 (3) Horsf. , Tr. L. S. Xm, 1821, 198; (4) Eaffl., t. c. 1822, 330; (5) Begbie, 

 Malay Penin. 1834, 515; (6) Gray, Gen. B. in, 664 (1848); (7) Blytli, Cat. B. 

 Mils. A. S. B. 1849, 299; (8) Bp., Consp. 1855, II, 181; (9) Schl., Mus. P.-B , 

 Pelecani, 1863, 26, pt.; (10) Jerd., B. India 1864, HI, 861; (11) Mart., J. f. O. 1866, 

 230; (12) Wald., Tr. Z. S. 1872, VIII, 106; (13) Meyer, J. f. 0. 1873, 405; (14) 

 Adam, Str. F. 1873, I, 403; (15) Ball, ib. 1874, II, 440; (16) Wald., Tr. Z. S. 

 1875, IX, 247; (17) Salvad., Cat. Ucc. Borneo 1874, 367 pt.; (18) Briigg., Abli. 

 Ver. Bremen 1876, V, 99; (19) Hartl., Vog. Madag. 1877, 396; (20) Rosenb. , 

 Malay. Arcliip. 1878, 279; (21) Hume & Davis., Str. F. 1878, VI, 496; (22) Meyer,- ■ 

 Ibis 1879, 145; (XXIII) Milne-Ed. & Graudid., Ois. Madag. 1879, I, 690, pis. 284, 

 285 (syn. emend.); (24) Legge, B. Ceylon 1880, 1194; (25) Rosenb., Zool. Garten 

 1881, 167; (26) W. Rams., Index Tweedd. Orn. Works 1881, 660; (27) W.A.Forbes, 

 P. Z. S. 1882, 208; (28) Salvad., Orn. Pap. 1882, IH, 4i(7 ; (29) Kelh., Ibis 1882, 

 203; (30) Gates, B. Br. Burmah 1883, 11, 235; (31) Vorderm., N. T. Ned. Ind. 



