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Show 1869.] MR. D. G. ELLIOT ON THE GENUS rELECANUS. 585 upon the flanks, and also covering the vent and entire under tail-coverts. The measurements are:-wing 24 inches; tail 8 inches ; bill, along culmen, 13| inches ; tarsus 3f inches ; middle toe 4 inches. A third specimen, still youuger, has the head and neck covered with a whitish down, a few short feathers standing out from the occiput. The feathers of the body rounded, none of the lanceolate shape (so conspicuous a feature in the adult) yet present. Upper parts and wings light brown, each feather with a broad margin of white; secondaries dark brown in the centre, fading out gradually to a brownish grey on the edges; primaries brownish black. Back and upper tail-coverts pure white, with none of the roseate tinge so prevalent in the more matured individuals. Tail silvery white ; shafts of the feathers of the tertials, secondaries, primaries, and tail black, white at their bases. Bill clear yellow ; the upper mandible with two rows of impressed black spots; bare skin around the eye yellow. (Entire under parts pure white; the feathers soft and downy.) The colours present in life having all disappeared. Wing, from carpal joint, 22 inches; tail 8 inches ; bill, along culmen, 12^ inches ; tarsus 3f inches ; middle toe 4 inches. Hab. Nubia, Abyssinia, Senegal, Aladagascar, India, Cochin-china, Malacca, Philippines, Java, &c. The synonymy of this species appears to be in a sad state of confusion, arising chiefly from the doubts existing as to whether this bird and P. philippensis are distinct-a circumstance which may indeed be very seriously questioned, as the differences that are claimed as sufficient to separate them are very slight, and may only be the result of age. Latham, in his ' Synopsis,' is the first to describe this species, which is sufficiently well done to leave no doubt of the bird meant by him; besides, the name which he conferred upon it, that of the Red-backed Pelican, indicates the adult of this species, and no other, as it is the only one of this genus which has the rose-colour restricted to these particular portions of the body. Gmelin, three years afterwards, in his ' Systema Naturae,' confers upon Latham's bird the name of rufescens, which, by the laws of priority, is the one it now possesses. The Pelecanus cristatus of Lesson appears to be a bird of this species. The long lanceolate feathers of the crest and back delicately tinted with yellowish, together with the square shape of the frontal feathers, would seem to point out the present bird. The pure white of the plumage ("plumage blanc pur") cannot be taken as referring to the entire bird, as, further on, the description says, "plumes du cou et du dos minces, effilees, legerement soufrees," which is observed also in specimens of rufescens. The absence of all mention of the rose-colour on the back arises probably from the fact of Lesson's specimen not being in the dress of the fully matured bird, which we may suppose alone possesses this beautiful hue. The Pelecanus pheeospilus of Wagler is probably the present species, although he gives no description to enable the bird he has in view to be definitely ascertained. He gives Senegal as the locality of his species, which is one of the habitats of P. rufescens. |
