AUSTRALIAN RED-LEGGED GANNET. 
ahbotti and Sula piscatrix (recte Sula sula). The second named species Sula 
abhotti is a larger bird than Sula sula, the present species, and has “ very 
black ” primaries. It is quite possible that this is the bird described by 
Osbeck, and consequently Pelecanus piscator Linne must be regarded as 
a mixture and disused in any connection. Before leaving this subject, 
Linne’s synonymy of his species may be examined, as it might throw light 
upon the validity of the species. 
The first reference is to Browne’s Jamaica. Upon looking this up I find 
no description worth consideration, Browne writing : “ Varies much in its 
colour, which most frequently borders upon the yellowish.” Browne’s work 
was published in 1756 and he refers back, as he gives no figure, to Sloane 
and Catesby. 
Catesby in his Natural History of Carolina in 1731 gives a full description, 
where he notes variation, but adds a splendid figure which is easily 
recognisable as the bird known as Pelecanus leucogaster Boddaert. 
Catesby gives a reference to Sloane’s Jamaica 1725, and there at the 
place quoted by Linne I find no description, but the plate figures again 
Pelecanus leucogaster Boddaert. 
Ray, the only other authority cited by Linne, in 1713, p. 191, gives no 
figure and his description reads : “ Albo et cinereo colore varia est : Anaitis 
Moscoviticse magnitudine.” Thus of Linne’s four synonyms two are quite 
meaningless, while the other two refer to Pelecanus leucogaster Boddaert. 
Consequently this supports strongly my contention that Pelecanus piscator 
Linne cannot be used for any species, apparently three or more species being 
confused under that name. 
Linne himself recognised this fact, for in his twelfth edition, p. 217, he 
included Pelecanus piscator, but restricted it to the Armen Acad. 4, p. 239 
femina, Diomedea piscatoria femina, Osb. it. 86, and Sula Candida Briss. av. 6, 
p. 501.” The first reference is to the published account, cited in 1758 as 
“ Chin. Lagerstr. 8,” then only in MS. The last named is quite a ^ood 
reference to the present species, the description, as usual with most of 
Brisson’s, being full and accurate. 
On p. 218, ed. XII.j Linne described Pelecanus sula thus : 
“ P. cauda cuneiformi, corpore albido, rostro dentato, remigibus primoribus 
apice nigricantibus, facie rubra. Habitat in Pelago indico. 
“ Bassano dimidio minor. Facies nuda, rubra. Pedes rubri. Mandibula 
superior magis apice adunca. Remigibus non tantum primores, sed et 
secundaria© extrorsum nigricantes, Rectrices que apice fuscescentes.” 
To this Linne added the synonymy he rejected from his P. piscator, with 
the only addition of “ Sula ” Briss. av, 6, p. 495, which is not referable here. 
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