PELECANIFOEMES. 
first of these is the most primitive . . . Phalacrocorax and Plotus belong to 
this first type. . . . Our second type is found in the skulls of Phcethon and 
Pelecanus, but, beyond this, the two skulls appear to have little else in 
common. The skull of PhcEthon appears to be the least specialised of the 
whole group, and presents characters which are not only found in all, or 
nearly all the other Steganopodes, but which also occur in forms outside this 
suborder. ... A vomer occurs only in Phcethon and Fregata. . . 
Fregata may be regarded as a link connecting Phcethon, which is 
undoubtedly one of the least specialised and most primitive of the 
Steganopodes, with the ProcellariiformesP 
I cannot reconcile such statements and consider more study necessary 
before the exact position of Phcethon, especially, can be correctly determined. 
However, for the present purpose the Pelecaniformes can be recognised 
as an Order, but further research may make subdivision necessary. 
The six families may be shortly diagnosed thus : Family Phalacrocoracidce 
are large birds, but for this Order comparatively small ones, with long 
thin hooked bills showing nostrils obscurely, medium wings, long neck with 
gular pouch and medium cuneate tail ; tarsus short, but toes long, the outer 
one longest and the others regularly decreasing in size ; all fully webbed. 
Family Anhingidce are larger birds with long, slender, straight and 
pointed bills showing obscure nostrils, no gular pouch, very long slender 
neck with a fixed “ kink ” in it, long cuneate tail and medium wings, short 
tarsus and long toes. Phylogenetically this is an evolution product of the 
former, but is now so well differentiated as to unhesitatingly demand family 
rank. The distribution of the species is erratic, somewhat agreeing with that 
of the Tree Ducks in the preceding Order. 
Family Sulidce are very large birds with long, stout, conical, straight 
pointed bills, with nostrils closed in the adult state so as not to be seen : neck 
stout and short with small gular pouch, long wings and long regular wedge- 
shaped tail, short tarsus and long toes. The metatarsus is stout and ^strong 
and comparatively long for the Order. The birds are large and heavy, being 
very stoutly built. 
Family Fregatidce are large birds with long, slender, but broadish, 
hooked bills, nostrils open, long neck, and gular pouches very large and 
distensible in the breeding male, very long wings and very long deeply-forked 
tail. The tarsus is so short as to be almost negligible, and the toes long, the 
connecting webs deeply emarginate. 
Though these birds are large they are very slight and the body is 
comparatively very small. The very long forked tail is characteristic and 
is not otherwise seen in the Order. 
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