| OCR Text |
Show 1869.] MR. D. G. ELLIOT ON THE GENUS PELECANUS. 573 species, but makes a new synonym for the P. fuscus, iu his " Charlestown Pelican," which is the " Brown Pelican " from that locality. (1788.) Gmelin, ' Systema Naturae.' In this work we find quite an extended list of species of this genus, without, however, rendering it necessary for us to accord our author any merit for original investigation, as it is simply Latham's list of a few years previous Latinized. The species are, P. onocrotalus, roseus, fuscus, manillensis, philippensis, rufescens, carolinensis, erythrorhynchus, thagus. Of these, P. rufescens is a good species, roseus, manillensis, and philiqipensis being synonyms : P. fuscus is also good, with carolinensis as a synonym, this being the Charlestown Pelican of Pennant ; while the American White Pelican is here first named erythrorhynchus, a misnomer. The P. thagus is P. molinee of Gray. Species now five. (1790.) Latham, ' Index Ornithologicus.' The list given by this author is the same as the preceding, except that the White Pelican of America is renamed trachyrhynchus, which is not admissible ; for, although itj may be more appropriate than Gmelin's appellation, yet the reason is not sufficient to justify the action, aud should not be upheld by subsequent writers. (1790.) Bonnaterre, ' Encyclopedic Methodique, Ornithologie.' The species already given are included in this author's list, but no novelty afforded. (1794.) Donndorf (Johann August), ' Zoologische Beitrage.' No new facts are recorded by the great synonymatist, while the errors previously made are repeated. Between this date and the next, a period of nearly thirty years, nothing especial transpired in the literature of this genus. (1822.) ' Transactions of the Linnean Society.5 Dr. Horsfield describes P. javanicus from Java. Species six. (1824.) Temminck, 'Planches Coloriees.' The Pelicanus conspicillatus is here described for the first time. Species seven. (1826.) Stephens, in 'Shaw's General Zoology.' A list of eight species is given, more correct than those usually met with at this period. These are P, onocrotalus, fuscus, rufescens, carolinensis, australis, javanicus, thagus, and trachyrhynchus: australis is a synonym of conspicillatus, carolinensis oi fuscus, and thagus of molinee; the other four stand as at present good species, so considered. (1826.) Riippell, ' Reise im nordl. Africa, Zoologie.' Dr. Riippell figures P. rufescens, up to the present time the only tolerable representation of the adult existing. (1831.) Lesson, ' Traite d'Ornithologie.' A list by this author, only requiring notice here from his giving a new synonym to the P. rufescens, in his P. cristatus. (1832.) Bruch, 'Isis,' p. 1109. P. crispus is here first described. Species eight. (1832.) Wagler, ' Isis,' p. 1233. Our author institutes the genus Onocrotalus (oblivious of Brisson's genus of the same name) with |
