THE BIEDS OF AUSTEALIA. 
“ The further question arises as to what is the correct name for the Brown 
Booby. In the 10th Edition of Linnaeus, apart from the Solan Goose, only 
one Booby is mentioned : this is Pelecanus 'piscator (p. 134). The diagnosis 
is very imperfect, and might do for either the Brown or the Red-footed Booby, 
which is named in the Catalogue ‘ S. piscator. ^ The first reference, on which 
this species is founded or partially founded, is to Osbeck’s ‘ Travels in 
China.’ On referring to this work (p. 85 of the original Swedish edition, 
1757 : p. 127 of the English translation) it will be found that Osbeck came 
across both species— the Brown and the Red-footed— in July, 1751, when off 
the south coast of Java, and that he believed that these were male and female 
respectively of the same species. Linnaeus’ Pelecanus piscator was founded 
on this conglomeration of two forms. 
‘‘In the 12th Edition of Linnaeus two Boobies are named — Pelecanus 
piscator and P. sula. The first of these names is now obviously restricted 
to the Red-footed Booby. The plumage is described as white, and the first 
reference is to the so-called female in Osbeck’s description and to Brisson’s 
Sula Candida^ which is also undoubtedly the same species. 
“ With regard to Linnaeus’ Pelecanus sula, it does not seem possible to 
identify it with the Brown Booby, as the face and legs are described as red. 
And although there is a reference to Brisson’s ‘ Sula sula,' one must go by 
the diagnosis and not by the reference, and this name must be regarded 
as a doubtful synonym of Sula piscator. The next available name for the 
Brown Booby appears to be Boddaert’s Pelecanus leucogaster (PI. Enl. 1783, 
p. 57, No. 973) as was first pointed out by Nelson [Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 
XVIII., 1905, p. 121). This name is founded on Buffon’s Petit Fou {Hist. 
Nat. Ois., Vol. VIII., 1781, p. 374), and is figured as the ‘ Fou de Cayenne ’ 
in the Planches Enluminees. The type, therefore, of the genus Sula is 
Sula leucogastra (Bodd.).” 
Under the succeeding species I give a detailed account of the Linnean 
species P. piscator and sula, and would point out that my account was prepared 
and in the printers’ hands before Mr. Sclater commenced his inquiry. It 
will be seen that I also reject Pelecanus piscator Linne as an unidentifiable 
mixture, but I see nothing in Osbeck’s account that can be referred to the 
Brown Booby, as Mr. Sclater indicates. Linne’s later readjustment of his 
P. piscator is untenable, so that that name must be dismissed from further 
consideration. Linne’s Pelecanus sula depends upon the diagnosis, not the 
references, as Mr. Sclater rightly concludes. When Mr. Sclater wrote : 
“ this name must be regarded as a doubtful synonym of Sula piscator ” he 
apparently meant “ of the 12th Edition.” I have also arrived at the same 
conclusion, but I regard it as absolutely synonymous and not doubtfully. 
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