Vol. XXXV.] 48 



vinaceous-red form of the Red-leg described above, but 

 variations in colour among the latter species are very 

 much rarer. 



Mr. W. L. ScLATER made the following remarks on the 

 type of the genus Stda : — 



" Recently, when engaged in preparing the new edition of 

 the B. O. U. List of British Birds, I had occasion to look 

 into the question of the type of the genus Sula ; and as I 

 find I am not in agreement with what may be called the 

 recognized authorities, I have put together the results of my 

 researches in the following note. 



" The genus Sula was first proposed by Brisson (Orn. vi. 

 1760, p. 494), and the type is without doubt [Sula'] sula 

 Brisson. This bird is, to my mind, the Brown Booby of 

 tropical seas which is generally known as Sula sula Linn., 

 and is so described by Ogilvie-Grant (Cat. Birds B. M. xxvi. 

 1898, p. 436). 



" The further question arises as to what is the correct 

 name for the Brown Booby. 



" In the 10th Edition of Linnaeus, apart from the Solan 

 Goose, only one Booby is mentioned. This is Pelecanus 

 piscator (p. 134). The diagnosis is very imperfect, and 

 might do for either the Brown or the Red-footed Booby, 

 which is named in the Catalogue ' S. piscato?-.' 



" The first reference, on which this species is founded or 

 partially founded, is to Osbeck^s ' Travels in China.^ On 

 referring to this work (p. 85 of the original Swedish edition, 

 1757 ; p. 127 of the English translation), it will be found 

 that Osbeck came across both species — the Brown and the 

 Red-footed — in July 1751 when off the south coast of Java, 

 and that he believed that these were male and female re- 

 spectively of the same species. Linnaeus^ Pelecanus piscator 

 was founded on this conglomeration of two forms. 



" In the 12th Edition of Linnseus two Boobies are named — 

 Pelecanus piscator and P. sula. The first of these names 

 is now obviously restricted to the Red-footed Booby. The 

 plumage is described as white, and the first reference is to 



