200 



VERTEBRATA: AVES OR BIRDS. 



The name comes from the Latin lamella, a plate, and 

 rostrum, a beak. 



In this group or order belong the Flamingoes, Geese 

 Swans, and Ducks. 



The Flamingoes are at once distinguished by their 

 exceedingly long neck and long legs by which they seem 

 related to the Herons and their very large bill which is 

 abruptly bent downward in the middle. They are found 

 on the Gulf of Mexico, and are about four feet lono-. 



^3 



The Swans, Geese, and Ducks, or Anatida 1 , have the 

 bill elevated and compressed at the base, and covered 

 with a leather-like membrane, excepting the end, which is 

 covered with a hard horny portion called the nail. The 

 Swans have a portion of bare skin between the eye and 

 the bill ; and are very large, having a length of four feet. 



The Geese have no bare skin between the eye and the bill. 



FIG. 236. 



Summer or Wood Duck, Aix sponsa, Boie. 



The Eiver Ducks, as the Mallards, Black Duck, Pin- 

 tail, Gadwalls, Widgeon, Teal, Shoveler, and Wood 



