THE BOOBY GANNET. 57 



The lachrymal duct passes obliquely inwards from the anterior corner of the 

 eye, and enters the nasal cavity by an aperture ^ twelfth in diameter, near 

 its anterior margin. 



In the cloaca was found a solid calculus, half an inch in diameter, of an 

 irregular form, white within, externally pale yellowish-brown, and marked 

 with grooves impressed by the action of the sphincter ani. 



The digestive and respiratory organs of the American Gannet are thus 

 precisely similar to those of the European. In external form, proportions, 

 and colours, there are no appreciable differences. The young in all stages 

 are similar. The flight, voice, general habits, and all other circumstances, 

 are the same. What, then, shall we say to those who have pretended that 

 the American bird differs from the European? Merely this, compare the 

 two, outside and inside, shew us differences, and then we shall judge if they 

 be sufficient to indicate different species; but until you have done this, do 

 not imagine that a mere "Sicla Jlmericana Nob.," is enough to satisfy the 

 world on this or any similar point. 



THE BOOBY GANNET. 



-HSijla fusca, Linn. 

 PLATE CCCCXXVL— Male. 



As the Marion was nearing the curious islets of the Tortugas, one of the 

 birds that more particularly attracted my notice was of this species. The 

 nearer we approached the land, the more numerous did they become, and I 

 felt delighted with the hope that ere many days should elapse, I should have 

 an opportunity of studying their habits. As night drew her sombre curtain 

 over the face of nature, some of these birds alighted on the top-yard of our 

 bark, and I observed ever afterwards that they manifested a propensity to 

 roost at as great a height as possible above the surrounding objects, making 

 choice of the tops of bushes, or even upright poles, and disputing with each 

 other the privilege. The first that was shot at, was approached with con- 

 siderable difficulty: it had alighted on the prong of a tree which had floated 

 and been fastened to the bottom of a rocky shallow at some distance from 



Vol. VII. 8 



