ESSENTIAL CHAEACTERS OF THE ORDERS. 



ORDER XVII. CRIBRATORES. SIFTERS. 



Bill covered with a cere, or soft skin, obtuse, and fur- 

 nished with internal or marginal lamellae. Tongue large, 

 fleshy, lamellate or papillate on the sides. (Esophagus nar- 

 row, without distinct dilatation ; proventriculus with a broad 

 continuous belt of oblong or cylindrical glandules. Stomach 

 an extremely muscular gizzard, with a dense epithelium, and 

 two strong grinding-plates. Intestine long, rather wide ; 

 coeca long, of moderate width. Trachea, in the females of 

 nearly uniform breadth, but in the males having diversiform 

 enlargements at its lower extremity; no inferior laryngeal 

 muscles. Feet with four toes, the anterior rather long, and 

 connected by webs ; the hind toe small and free, often with a 

 lobe ; claws generally small and obtuse. Wings convex ; 

 tail short. 



ORDER XVIII. URINATORES. DIVERS. 



Bill of moderate length, strong, tapering, compressed, 

 pointed, opening rather widely, and more or less dilatable at 

 the base. Tongue slender, pointed. (Esophagus wide, with 

 moderately thick walls ; proventriculus with a broad belt, 

 not always continuous, of oblong glandules. Stomach rather 

 large, roundish, with the muscular coat rather thick, the 



