578 



CRIBRATORES. SIFTERS. 



and Mergansers, respectively named, according to the mode 

 of speech employed by the naturalist, Phoenicopterinae, An- 

 serinse, Cygninae, Anatinae, Fuligulinae, and Merganserinae ; 

 of all which, the first excepted, representatives occur in 

 Britain. The Phcenicopterinae, of which only three species 

 are known, are characterized by a very peculiar formation of 

 the bill, which is suddenly deflected in the middle, and by 

 the extreme elongation of the neck and legs, insomuch that 

 these birds have by many ornithologists been placed among 

 the Waders. The Merganserinse are distinguished by an 

 attenuated bill, of which the lamellae are dentiform, resemb- 

 ling the teeth of a saAv. But even these groups blend with 

 the rest, Phoenicopterus being connected with the Geese by 

 the genus Cereopsis, and Merganser passing into the Fuligu- 

 linae by means of the genus Mergus. The other families are 

 so connected that it is impossible strictly to define them ; and 

 therefore in giving their characters, I shall confine myself to 

 general and comprehensive terms, applicable only with some 

 latitude. 



