178 the frigate pelican. 
bronchial membrane. The bronchi are wide, and formed of 20 half 
rings. 
The sternum is extremely singular, on account of its great width and 
concavity, compared with its length; the latter being only 24 inches, while 
the breadth at the anterior costal processes is 2J inches. The crest is thus 
extremely short, but of considerable height, its most prominent part being 
10 J twelfths. The coracoid bones are remarkably large, and so firmly fixed 
in the joint as to have just the slightest perceptible motion. The furcula is 
also very large and wide, of the form of the letter U, its crura at their union 
forming a large mass of solid bone, continuous with the crest of the sternum. 
The posterior edge of the sternum has a very slight sinus on each side. 
Now, in this bird, which is confessed to be inferior to none in its power of 
flight, the sternal crest is not nearly so prominent as that of a Grouse or 
Partridge, so that the supposed indication which this part affords of vigorous 
flight is evidently fallacious. The sternum, although much shorter, resem- 
bles that of the Pelicans, Cormorants, and Anhingas, as we’l as in a less 
degree that of the Gannets. 
Genus IY.— PELECANUS Linn. PELICAN. 
Bill about thrice the length of the head, rather slender, almost straight, 
depressed ; upper mandible linear, depressed, convex at the base, gradually 
flattened, and a little enlarged to near the end, when it narrows, and termi- 
nates in a hooked point ; ridge broad and convex at the base, gradually nar- 
rowed and flattened beyond the middle, separated by a groove from the 
sides, erect at the base, sloping towards the edges, edges very acute, with an 
internal groove ; lower mandible with the angle excessively long, extending 
to the unguis, the sides. erect and convex, the edges thin and involute, the 
tip decurved. Nostrils basal, lateral, linear, concealed by the wrinkles of 
the skin. Head small, oblong ; neck long, stout ; body full, rather flattened. 
Feet short, and very stout ; tarsus short, compressed, covered all round with 
hexagonal scales; toes in the same plane, all connected by webs, first shortest 
fourth longer than third. Claws short, strong, curved, that of the third 
