that connect the Orders and Families of Birds. 501 



species, the M. albellus, Linn., which is intermediate in its 

 breadth and depression, it preserves its connexion with the 

 Anates. We hence pass to the fifth and last group of the family, 

 which, with the bill of the Anates, retains most of the characters 

 conspicuous in Mergus. The forms most prominent in it, repre- 

 sented by the different Linnean species A.ferina, clangula, his- 

 trionica, and mollissima, possess a strongly lobated hind toe* ; 

 they frequent the ocean for the most part, where they dive with 

 the greatest facility and for a length of time ; and they live 

 chiefly on marine animals. Their legs are also thrown behind 

 the equilibrium of their body ; and thus also they evince their 

 contiguity to the typical Natatores. By means of the group 

 which contains A. mollissima, our well-known Eider Duck and 

 its congeners, where the bill, with an elevated protuberance at 

 the base, approaches that of the Anas olor, Linn., we find our- 

 selves brought round to the Cygnus of the present day, which 

 forms part of the first division. That genus in like manner de- 

 viates partially from the conterminous genus Anser, in its legs 

 being thrown more backward, and its consequently greater awk- 

 wardness in walking. Here then the affinities are evident which 

 thus establish the perfect return of the series of the Anatida into 

 itself. Before we leave the family, I must indvilge myself in 

 observing a most conspicuous peculiarity which marks the series 

 of affinities among these groups. The long and slender neck 

 observable in the Grallatores is preserved in such groups of the 

 Anatidce as are most conterminous to that order, such as Cygnus, 



* " Ceux qui ont au pouce un large rudiment liche, plongent habituellement 



et loug-tems : ces derniers vivent sur les grandes mers." Temm. Man. p. 83 1. — " Les 



especes dont le pouce est bord6 d'une membrane, ont la t^te plus grosse, le cou 



plus court, les pieds plus en arriere, les ailes plus petites, les doigts plus longs, les 

 palmures plus enti^res. EUes marchent plus mal, vivent plus exclusivement de pois- 

 sons et dlnsectes, et plongent plus souvent." Cuv. Regne Anim. i. p. 532. 



3 T 2 Anser, 



