488 PALMIPEDES. 



ORDER VI I. 



Palmipedes.* 



The birds belonging to this Order display deci- 

 dedly aquatic liabits. They swim witli facility, 

 haunting rivers, lakes, and seas, and tlieir whole 

 structure adapts them for such stations ; hence they 

 have obtained the expressive name of water-fowl. As 

 a rule, they are awkward on land, and the more so 

 the more exclusively they tenant the water, for in 

 order to render the stroke of their paddle-feet 

 effective, their legs are placed behind the centre of 

 gravity, and thrown as far back as possible ; hence, 

 on the ground, these birds have either to maintain 

 their balance by dint of muscular exertion, as we 

 see in the Swan when it labours over the grassy 

 bank, or, as in the Grebe, they are obliged to 

 assume an erect attitude. The feet are webbed, 

 but in a different manner in different families. The 

 form of body in the water-birds is boat-like, and in 

 those that dive the ribs are strong, and carried 

 down so as almost entirely to surround and defend 

 the internal viscera from undue pressure. The 

 plumage is thick, close, and waterproof. There is 

 a dense under-garment of down overlaid by large, 

 sometimes silky feathers, which throw off the water 

 as if their surface was oiled. In many the neck is 

 long and the tail very short ; in some the tail, com- 

 posed of rigid plumes, acts as a rudder in the act of 

 diving. A few are utterly incapable of flight, and 

 use their wings as paddles in the water. From 

 among these birds man has reclaimed several spe- 

 cies for the sake of their flesh, which is excellent. 



This Order comprises the Ducks, the Divers, the 

 Auks, the Petrels, the Pelicans, and the Grulls. 



* In the " Tabular View " this order is named Anseres. 



