sulidæ

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. A family of totipalmate natatorial birds, represented by the genus Sula, of the order Steganopodes, related to the cormorants and pelicans; the gannets and boobies. They have the bill longer than the head, very stout at the base, tapering to the little decurved tip, cleft to beyond the eyes, with abortive nostrils in a nasal groove, and a small naked gular sac; long pointed wings; moderately long, stiff, wedge-shaped tail of twelve or fourteen feathers; stout serviceable feet beneath the center of equilibrium; and the general configuration somewhat like that of a goose. There are two carotids, a discoid oil-gland, small cæca, and large gallbladder. The pneumaticity of the body is extreme, as in pelicans. See cut under gannet.