PISCATRIX. 
Parasula. 
Sulita. 
Sula. 
Piscatrix, 
bird must have undergone an environmental stress disproportionate to the 
alteration seen. 
An artificial key of the genera might be thus framed ; half a dozen other 
characters could be added in each case. 
A. Wing over 420 mm. 
a' BiU more than half the length of the tail 
6' Bill less than half the length of the tail 
B. Wing under 420 mm. 
c' Bill more than half the length of the tail 
d' Bill less than half the length of the tail 
The preceding review is practically as written some months ago with 
the alteration of a few words only. I have left it, as it is rather a good 
example of the confusion commonly attending the interpretation of the 
Brissonian generic names. In the American Ornithologists’ Union’s Chech- 
list, 3rd Edition, 1910, p. 60, Sula was used as of Brisson, the type being 
given as “ [Sula] sula Bnsson= Pelecanus piscator Linnaeus.” It was due 
to the influence of American ornithologists that the Brissonian genera were 
concluded to be valid by the International Commission on Zoological 
Nomenclature. Consequently it would be considered that the supporters of 
Brisson would have accurately determined his types. I examined the 
description given by Brisson of his “ Sula ” and concluded it agreed fairly 
well with the bird known as “ leucogaster Boddaert ” : there was a 
probability however that it might have been based on the immature of the 
bird known (wrongly) as “ piscator Linne.” I was unable to definitely decide 
the question and therefore accepted the American view, though not absolutely 
certain as to its accuracy. 
While this account was in the press, W. L. Sclater has decided in favour 
of my first opinion, and I therefore reproduce his arguments before I give 
my criticism of some of his details. 
In the Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, Vol. XXXV., p. 48, Jan. 27, 1915, he wrote : 
“ Recently when engaged in preparing the new edition of the B.O.U. Lisi of 
British Birds, I had occasion to look into the question of the type of the genus 
Sula, and as I find I am not in agreement with what may be called the 
recognized authorities, I have put together the results of my researches in 
the following note : 
“ The genus Sula was first proposed by Brisson {Orn., Vol. VI., 1760, 
p. 494), and the type is without doubt [Sula] sula Brisson. This bird is, 
to my mind, the Brown Booby of tropical seas, which is generally known as 
Sula sula Linn., and is so described by Ogilvie-Grant {Cat. Birds B. M., 
XXVI., 1898, p. 436). 
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