of these names ; and while we retain for the Indian species the original name conferred on it by Dr. Latham, which, it is to be recollected, is an Indian word, we have assigned the African species the title of Marabou which, it is equally to be observed, is a word peculiar to Africa. The specimen brought home by the present expedition appears to be a young bird* and answers to the description given of the young of this species by M. Temminck. The colours are nearly black in the bird before us, which are grey in the adult bird figured by that gentleman. Major Denham mentions his having noticed some birds nearly allied to this species which were larger, and different in colour, and which he conceived to be distinct. They probably were the adult birds of this species. Ordo. N a t a t o r e s . H I. Fam. A n a t id æ . Leach. Subfam. A n s e r in a . V. in Zool. Joum. Genus. P l e c t r o p t e i iu s , Leach. Speciès 19.—Plectroplerus Gambensis. Plectropteras Gambensis. Steph. in Shaw’s Zool. XII. Part 2. p. 7. pi. 36. Anas Gambensis. Linn. I. 195. ' Spur-winged Goose. Lath. Gen. Hist. X. 241. This bird was found in flocks of great numbers on all the lakes. The flesh was very coarse, and of a fishy taste, and afforded very bad eating. Species 20.—Plectropterus melanonotus. Plectropterus melanotos. Steph. in Shaw’s Zool. XII. Part 2. p. 8. Anser melanonotus. Forst. Zool. Ind. p. 21.1. 11. Anas melanonotus. Lath. Ind. Om. 889. Oye de la côté de Coromandel. PI. Enl. 937. Black-backed Goose. Penn. Ind. Zool. p. 12. t. 11. This species, of which fine specimens of the male and female are preserved m the collection, was met with on the lake Tchad. It was not seen in any abundance, and was found in company with other species of the famdy. The protuberance on the bill of the male is much more enlarged and prominent than is represented in the « Planches Enluminées.” Subfam. A n a t i n a . V. in Zool. Joum. Genus. A n a s . Auct. Species 21.—Anas viduata. Anas viduata. Linn. I. 205. Canard du Maragnan. PI. Enl. 808. Spanish Duck. Penn. Gen. o f Birds, p. 65. t. 13. This species was very common, both on Lake Tchad and on all the smaller lakes. It wais excellent eating. Mr. Pennant has described the species as an inhabitant of America and Africa. Linnaaus says only, that it is found in the lakes of Carthagena ; those, it is supposed, of New Spain. Our bird accords very accurately with his description of the species, and also with the figure quoted above from the ** Planches Enluminées. We have every reason to conclude with Mr. Pennant, that the species inhabits both the Old and New Continent. The bend of the wing exhibits the rudiments of a spur. Fam. P e l e c a n i d æ . Leach Genus. O n o c r o t a l u s . Briss. Species 22.—Onocrotalus Brissonii. Pelicanus Onocrotalus. Linn. I. 215. Le Pelican. PI. Enl. 87. White Pelican. Edw. t. 92. This well known species has been described to us by Major Denham as very abundant on the borders of Lake Tchad. The genus Onocrotalus was first instituted by M. Brisson j but, according to his custom, he left the present species without any specific name. M. Cuvier, in his “ Regne Animal,” acknowledges the genus ; but neither has he specifically distinguished the bird. We feel much pleasure in now assigning it a name, in memory of the first characterizer of the group ; an ornithologist, whose works cannot be studied without the highest advantage, but whose labours have never as yet been sufficiently appreciated.
27f 24
To see the actual publication please follow the link above