OCR Text |
Show 574 MR. D. G. ELLIOT ON THB GENUS PELECANUS. [Nov. 25, the 0. hernandezii as the type-this, however, being a synonym of P. thagus of Molina, now accepted as P. molinee of Gray. P. rufescens in this article is also renamed phaospilus. Species eight. (1836.) Brandt, Joannes Fredericus,' Descriptiones et Icones Animalium Rossicorum novorum.' The author gives in this pamphlet descriptions and copious synonymy of two species, P. onocrotalus and P. crispus, while fuscus is attributed to the West Indies, and conspicillatus to N e w Holland, and onocrotalus, vel species valde affinis to North America. A good description of the bony structure and internal anatomy of onocrotalus is added. A very valuable contribution. (1837.) Riippell, 'Museum Senckenbergianum,' p. 185. A uew species is here described as P. minor. Species nine. (1838.) Lichtenstein, ' Abhandlungen der Konigl. Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin.' In this valuable paper is coutained the best monograph of this genus that had thus far been attempted. Seven species are given, namely, onocrotalus, mitratus, crispus, rufescens, trachyrhynchus, fuscus, and conspicillatus : P. mitratus is described as new, but is the minor of Riippell given in the previous year, as above noted, while philippensis of Brisson and manillensis and roseus of Gmelin are considered the same as rufescens. A plate with representations of the heads, both in profile and front view, of six of the species is given, conspicillatus having been omitted. Altogether it is the most valuable paper on this genus thus far published. (1849.) Gray and Mitchell, ' Genera of Birds.' The genus Pelecanus is here introduced as belonging to the second subfamily of the great family Pelecanidee, which arrangement the present writer accepts only in part. The four generally considered families, Pelecanidee, Plotidce, Tachypetidce, and Phalacrocoracidee, would seem to be far more naturally arranged if brought together under the first named, and these divisions considered as subfamilies of the one family Pelecanidee. The differences exhibited among the members of each group from those of the others are more of the kind properly considered generic than of those which constitute separate family divisions. All the species as now known are included in this excellent list, except the P. javanicus of Horsfield. (1850.) Reichenbach, "Novitiae ad 'Synopsis Avium.' " Eight species are here enumerated, javanicus and molinee being omitted. Reduced figures are also given. (1851.) Reichenbach, MS., as quoted by Bonaparte. Four genera are here instituted-Catoptropelicanus, type P. conspicillatus; Onocrotalus, type P. crispus; Cyrtopelicanus, type P. erythrorhynchus ; and Leptopelicanus, type P. fuscus. (1857.) Bonaparte, ' Conspectus Generum Avium.' In this monograph the various species are grouped in three genera. Pelecanus, Linn., comprises conspicillatus, crispus, rufescens, philippensis, and onocrotalus. Catoptropelicanus, Reich., is placed as a subgenus for conspicillatus, and Onocrotalus of the same author as a |