Class II. GANNET CORVORANT. 287 



from the base of the upper mandible is a sharp 

 process pointing forward ; it has no nostrils, 

 but in their place a long furrow, that reaches 

 almost to the end of the bill ; the w^hole is of a 

 dirty white, tinged with ash color. The tongue 

 is very small, and placed low^ in the mouth; a 

 naked skin of a fine blue surrounds the eyes, 

 W'hich are of a pale yellow, and are full of vi- 

 vacity ; this bird is remarkable for the quick- 

 ness of its sight; Martin tells us that Solan 

 is derived from an Irish word expressive of 

 that quality. From the corner of the mouth 

 is a narrow slip of black bare skin, that ex- 

 tends to the hind part of the head ; beneath the 

 chin is another, that like the pouch of the Pe- 

 lecan, is dilatable, and of size sufficient to con- 

 tain five or six entire herrings ; which, in the 

 breeding season, it carries at once to its mate 

 or young. The neck is very long ; the body flat, 

 and very full of feathers ; the crown of the head, 

 and a small portion on the hind part of the neck 

 is buff colored ; the rest of the plumage is white, 

 the bastard wing and greater quil feather ex- 

 cepted, which are black ; the legs and toes are 

 black; but the fore part of both are marked 

 with a stripe of fine pea green. The tail con- 

 sists of twelve sharp pointed feathers, the mid- 

 dle of which is the longest. , , , ,; 



