CLASSIFICATION AND NOMENCLATURE. 15 



12. Macronyches. Jacanas. 



13. Macrodacti/U. Rails, Gallinules. 



14. Pinnatipedes. Coots, Phalaropes. 



15. Palmipedes. Avocettes, Flamingoes. 



V. Natatores. Feet short, placed in the centre of gravity, 

 or at the hind part of the hody ; legs denuded on their lower 

 part ; toes webbed, sometimes lobed, three before and one be- 

 hind, three before and none behind, or four before and none 

 behind ; claws short, rarely moderate, compressed, or flattened. 

 Bill of various forms. 



Tribe 1. Tellopodes. Four toes; pollex directed for- 

 wards and connected by a membrane with the next, 

 or turned back and free. 



1. Syndactyli. Cormorants, Pelicans, Tropic-birds. 



2. TJrinatores. Grebes, Divers. 



3. Dermorhynci. Geese, Swans, Ducks. 



4. Pelagii. Gulls, Terns. 



Tribe 2. Atellopodes. Three webbed toes before, none 

 behind. 



5. Siphorini. Petrels, Albatrosses. 



6. Brachypteri. Guillemots, Auks. 



Tribe 3. Ptilopteri. Four toes, three palmate, pollex 

 directed forwards and free. 



7. Splienisci. Penguins. 



These are samples of systems, of which however there are 

 multitudes of all shapes and sizes, formed on various principles, 

 some apparently on no principles at all, but all doubtless ex- 

 cellent and admirable in the eyes of their inventors. Yet I pre- 

 sume any person must be sensible of the absurdity of characters 

 like those given to the fourth order, Grallatores, of the above ar- 

 rangement. I cannot venture upon the magnificent systems of 

 the present day, in which, if we believe their authors, the 

 order and harmony of nature are demonstrated with absolute 

 certainty ; although to me they seem like fragments of old 

 chaos, or dreams of monomania. For my part, I confess 

 my inability to discover the principles according to which 



