REMARKS ON THE SWIMMING BIRDS. 569 



These birds, which some, considering them as a family, 

 name Anatida?, others Lamellirostres, constitute the order 

 Cribratores. Others, essentially Divers, and feeding on 

 fish, are named Urinatores. A third ordinal series, consist- 

 ing of birds incapable of diving in pursuit of their prey, though 

 they occasionally plunge or dip into the water, to obtain it, 

 may be named Mersatores. Of these three orders, which 

 are all into which the extensive series of Water Birds 

 admits of being divided, the characters will be given else- 

 where at considerable length. Here it is only necessary 

 to present short definitions, sufficient to enable a person 

 who may have obtained a web-footed bird to refer it to its 

 peculiar order. • 



Cribratores. Sifters. Bill covered with soft skin, 

 obtuse, and furnished with internal or marginal lamellae. 

 Tongue large, fleshy, lamellate or papillate on the sides. 

 (Esophagus narrow ; stomach an extremely muscular gizzard. 

 Intestine long, rather wide ; cceca large. Feet with four toes ; 

 the anterior rather long, the hind toe small and free. Wings 

 convex ; tail short. 



Urinatores. Divers. Bill strong, tapering, compressed, 

 pointed, opening rather widely, and dilatable at the base. 

 Tongue slender, pointed. (Esophagus wide ; stomach rather 

 large, roundish, with the muscular coat rather thick. Intes- 

 tine long, and rather wide, with moderate coeca. Tarsus 

 extremely compressed. Wings narrow, pointed; tail ex- 

 tremely short, or of moderate length. 



Mersatores, Plungers. Bill generally stout, straight, 

 compressed, opening to beneath the eyes. Tongue fleshy, 

 tapering, pointed. (Esophagus very wide ; stomach small, 

 muscular. Intestine rather long, narrow ; coeca very small, 

 cylindrical. Tarsus not much compressed. Wings very 

 long, much pointed. 



The accompanying figure represents the foot of a Cor- 



