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Show 572 MR. D. G. ELLIOT ON THE GENUS PELECANUS. [Nov. 25, all the species, excepting P. javanicus, are represented by a large number of individuals of various ages. I have also examined the specimens in the collections of the British and Paris Museums, as well as the living birds in the Gardens of this Society and in those of the Jardin des Plantes and Jardin dAcclimatation of Paris. M y conclusions are the result of patient investigation; yet I am fully aware that in some instances they may appear less satisfactory than might be desired ; this, however, in some degree, arises from the lack of necessary specimens of the different ages of one or two species to enable me to clear up some still uncertain points. If I shall succeed in drawing the attention of those whose opportunities are better than m y own to study the changes of plumage of those species still involved in some obscurity, and thus extend our knowledge of these interesting birds, m y paper will not have been written in vain. Review of the Literature of the Genus. As far within the dim past as history gives to us any record, the birds of this genus have been observed and mentioned ; for we have good reason to suppose that the P. onocrotalus, the species most widely distributed and best known in the Old World to-day, was the "Pelican of the wilderness" of Biblical times. All of the older authors mention the " Pelican," meaning to imply, probably, the commou species just named above, although in many instances their descriptions could not be referred to that bird. Commencing with Linnaeus, the author of the binominal system now generally adopted, in the review of the literature of the genus, his great work claims first our attention. The tenth edition of the ' Systema Naturae,' being generally conceded to be the most complete, I have not deemed it advisable to refer to works prior to its date, notwithstanding that some eAXcellent although, unfortunately, polynominalist authors flourished before the great Swede. (1758.) Linnaeus, 'Systema Naturae.' The genus Pelecanus, established by Linnaeus in 1735, here contains only one species, the P. onocrotalus, according to our author's ideas, although he adopts as synonymous the O. fuscus of Sloane, and the O. americanus of Edwards, both of which are distinct species of the New World. But thus far Linnaeus's genus has but one species. (1760.) Brisson, ' Ornithologie.' This author here establishes the genus Onocrotalus, with P. onocrotalus as his type, and cites the following as his species : -0. albus (P. onocrotalus) ; O. mexicanus dentatus, which is the P. molinee of Gray as it now stands; O. fuscus ; and O. philippensis, which is P. rufescens as now determined,- four species in all, being quite a step in advance of Linnaeus's list of two years previous. The descriptions given by Brisson are good, and the various species easily recognizable ; but so much cannot be said of the plates. (1785.) Pennant, '.\rctic Zoology.' This author gives no new |