602 FRIGATE PELICAN. 



extremely short, feathered ; toes all placed in the same plane, and con- 

 nected by short reticulated webs with concave margins, but running nar- 

 row along the sides ; they are scutellate above, broad and papillate be- 

 neath; first toe small, second shorter than fourth, third much longer than 

 the latter. Claws strong, compressed, curved, acute, that of middle toe 

 long, obliquely flattened, and pectinate on the inner edge. 



Eyelids and gular sac, with the anterior part of the neck, bare. Plu- 

 mage compact, on the head, neck, breast, and back, shining. The fea- 

 thers of the head, neck, and back are lanceolate and acuminate ; of the 

 breast and sides broader ; of the wings small and rounded. Wings ex- 

 tremely long, pointed, the first quill longest, the rest rapidly diminishing ; 

 the secondaries very short, obliquely rounded and acuminate, the inner 

 long and tapering. Tail very long, deeply forked, of twelve rounded 

 feathers, the outer narrow and abruptly rounded. 



Bill light purplish-blue, white in the middle, the curved tips dusky. 

 Inside of mouth carmine ; gular sac orange. Bare space about the eye 

 purplish-blue ; iris deep brown. Feet light carmine above, orange be- 

 neath. The general colour of the plumage is brownish -black, the head, 

 neck, back, breast, and sides, splendent with green and purple reflections, 

 the former predominating on the head, the latter on the back. The wings 

 are tinged with grey, the inner secondaries and tail with brown ; the shafts 

 of the former black, of the latter brown. 



I have observed in specimens which I considered to be very old, that 

 the gular sac was covered with pustules, similar to those found at times 

 around the base of the mandibles of the Cathartes Aura, and which ap- 

 pear to be the effects of disease, occasioned by their coming frequently 

 in contact with putrid substances. 



Length to end of tail 41 inches, to end of wings 37 ; to end of claws 

 24| ; wing from flexure 25, tail 18; extent of wings 86 ; bill along the 

 back 5^, along the edge of lower mandible 5^^ ; tarsus | ; middle loe £|, its 

 claw i§. Weight 3 lb. 6 oz. 



The Adult Female differs from the male in several respects. The, 

 former has the whole plumage dark-coloured, whereas the latter has a 

 broad white space on the breast, that colour extending forwards along 

 the sides of the neck, and enciixling it about the middle. The feathers 

 of the back are less elongated and pointed, and thjir lustre is much in- 

 ferior to that of the male. The dark parts also are mure tinged with 

 brown, and most of the smaller wing-coverts are of the latter colour. 



