34 
ORNITHOLOGY. 
and they equally agree with the general description of the species above quoted. They also aceord 
with the description of the flat-billed Auk, or A lea pygmcca of Dr. Latham, who probably refers to the 
horny process on the upper mandible, when he speaks of the tip of it being “ ridged.”*' This latter 
bird M. Temminck asserts to be the young of the Phaleris cristatella. This may be the case; but the 
point is one which can only be determined in the native country of the birds, and by constant attention 
to them. When there occur so many changes according to age, not merely in the plumage, but in 
the structure of the bill of the birds of the present family, and of other analogous groups, such, for 
instance, as the Hornbills, it is impossible for the home naturalist to come to any conclusion, as to 
species, upon the mere examination of a skin. Relying, however, upon the known accuracy of the 
Prince of Musignano, I refer our specimens to his species as above quoted, expressing at the same 
time the doubts I feel on the subject. 
Specimens of these birds were brought off from St. Lawrence Island in great abundance, in com- 
pany with the species last referred to. It is to be observed, that no intermediate specimens are to be 
found in the collection between these two alleged species. A specimen examined by Mr. Collie had 
“ an egg taken out of it, which was ovate, and two inches long a circumstance which indicates the 
adult state of the bird. 
Fam. PELECANIDjF. 
Phalacrocorax cirriger. King, Zool. Journ. vol. 4. p. 103. 
A young specimen apparently of the above species, exhibiting the first rudiments of the longitu- 
dinal tuft of feathers down the sides of the neck, is in the collection. 
Sula Fuse A. Brisson. 
Pelecanus sula. Linn., Syst. Nat. vol. 1. p. 218. sp. 7. 
Booby. Catesby, Car.t. pi. 87. 
Mr. Collie, speaking of this species says, “ these birds roost on the rocks in the sea, and particularly 
on the Piedra Blanca de la Tierrain the bay of San Bias. When fishing, they come down obliquely to 
the surface of the water, dip under it, and shoot along, the head and part of the body being covered ; 
and then they either settle on the surface, or fly up again.” 
The common white Pelican, Pelecanus onocrotalus, Linn., is frequently referred to in Mr. Collie’s 
notes, as being met with, and some observations appear of its anatomy. No specimen, however, is in 
the collection. 
The following observations, although not strictly belonging to our subject, as referring to a bird 
not in the collection, are yet of so much interest as to authorise their being extracted from Air. Collie’s 
notes. At the same time I must express my doubts of the bird, whose anatomy is described by 
Mr. Collie, being the true Pel. onocrotalus. “ The os liyoides was imbedded in the membrane of the 
pouch, a little anteriorly to the larynx, and if connected by ligaments and muscles, they are so slight 
as to escape a superficial inspection. The larynx and trachea are closely applied to the middle line pf 
the pouch, and the rima gloltidis lies obliquely downwards and backwards. The epiglottis (or tongue, 
for there is no other similar substance,) is a small eminence about an inch anterior to the rima, and 
may be brought to cover it by muscular action. There are no fleshy teeth. From the head the pouch 
gradually contracts to the middle of the neck, and there terminates in the oesophagus, the pouch being 
properly the distended fauces. A small longitudinal chink in the palate denotes the posterior nares. 
The cavity of the larynx is divided into two equal parts by a longitudinal lamina projecting from the 
anterior part backwards, and touching, but not attached to, the posterior part. The oesophagus dilated 
Gen. Hist. vol. 10. p. 72. sp, 13. His description seems to have been taken from the Arctic Zoology. 
