ORDER PALMIPEDES. 593 



tween the tropics, pouncing on the flying fish, and 

 striking the boobies to compel them to disgorge their 

 food. Only one is thoroughly known. 



Greater Frigate Pelican. Pelecanus Aquilus. L. 

 Enl. 961. Vieill. Gal. 274. 



Plumage black, more or less varied with white under 

 the throat and neck j bill red. The expanse of its 

 wings is said to be sometimes as much as ten or 

 twelve feet. 



These have been rather gratuitously raised to the 

 rank of species, Pelec. Minor, Edw. 309 ; T. Minor, 

 Vieill., and Leucocephahis, Buff. Ois, 8, pi. 30; and 

 perhaps also the Pelec. P aimer stoni, Lath. 



The Boobies. Sula, Briss. Dysporus,* II. 



Have the bill straight, slightly compressed, pointed, 

 with the points a little arched, the edges indented 

 like a saw, with the teeth directed backward ; the 

 nostrils are prolonged into a line, which extends to 

 near the point ; the throat is naked, as well as round 

 the eyes, and a little extensible ; the nail of the mid- 

 dle toe is notched ; the wings are much less than 

 those of the Frigate, and the tail is a little angular. 



* Sula is the name of Pel. Bassanus, L. in the Faroe Islands, according to 

 Hoyer, Clus. Exot. 36. The English name is from their stupidity. The 

 genus Morus of Vieillot. 



VOL. VI 11. Q U 



