PYGOrODES: 



ORDER r IXJXJI \J V IhO* DIVIXG BIRDS. 



Excliuliug tlie Sphenifci, or Penguins, wLich may form a group of equal value with 

 Fiif/o2)odes, the latter consist of three families, readily distinguished, as follows: 



Common characters. — Feet palmate or lobate. Legs feathered to the heel-joint, buried 

 in common integument nearly to the same extent, situate far posterior, restricting ter- 

 restrial locomotion, and necessitating more or less nearly erect attitude on land. Hal- 

 lux elevated, free or joined by lobe to base only of inner toe, small or altogether 

 •wanting. Bill of indeterminate shape, corneous, not lamellate or serrate, not furnished 

 ■with a gular pouch. Nostrils variable in shape and position, naked or feathered. 

 Wings short, stiff, stout, never reaching when folded to the end and often not to the 

 base of the tail. Tail always short, sometimes rudimentary. Palate schizognathous. 

 Carotid sometimes single (in Podiceps and Mergulus). Tibia often with a long apophy- 

 sis. Sternum variable. Nature altricial or praicocial ; young ptilopjedic. Habit highly 

 natatorial and iirinatorial. . 



Colymhidw. — Feet comjiletely palmate, four-toed, the hallux joined by its slight flap 

 to base of inner toe. Tarsi reticulate, extremely compressed, with smooth sharp hinder 

 edge. Tibio-tarsal joint feathered. Claws strong, narrow, arched. Bill lengthened, 

 tapering, acute, straight, wholly hard. Tail perfect, of many feathers. Wings with 

 stiff inner secondaries much shorter than the primaries, the primaries not emargiuate. 

 Lores completely feathered. Nostrils linear, reached by the fi'ontal autiae, their upiier 

 edge lobato. Eye large. Back of adult spotted ; young not striped on head ; no 

 crests or ruffs at any season. Seasonal changes of "plumage slight. Sternum with long, 

 broad xiphoid prolongation and shorter lateral apophyses. A long tibial apophysis. 

 Carotids double. Nature prascocial. Eggs few, variegated in color. The verj^ few 

 sjiecies coulined to the Northern hemisphere. 



Podicijndw. — Feet lobate and semipalmate, four-toed, the hallux free, with large lobe. 

 Tarsi transversely scutellate, compressed, the hinder edge serrate, with a double row 

 of small pointed scales. Tibio-tarsal joint naked. Claws broad, flat, obtuse. Bill 

 usually lengthened and straight, but the tip sometimes decurved. Tail rudimentary — 

 a mere tuft of downy feathers. Wings with long, broad inner secondaries overlying 

 the primaries when closed ; primaries eleven, several emargiuate. Lores with a naked 

 strip. Nostrils linear, oblong or ovnl, not lobed, not reached by the frontal feathers. 

 Size medium and small. Back of adult not spotted; young usually with strii)ed 

 head; adults in breeding season usually with lengthened colored crests or rufts or 

 bristly feathers. Seasonal changes of plumage great. Sternum short in middle line, 

 with long lateral apophyses. A long tibial apophysis. Carotids usually (always '■') 

 single. Nature prsecocial. Eggs numerous, plainly colored. The numerous species 

 cosmopolitan. 



Alcidw. — Feet palmate, three-toed (hallux wanting). Tarsi reticulate or partly scu- 

 tellate. Tibio-tarsal joint naked. Claws ordinary. Bill of wholly indeterminate sbapc, 

 often much as in Colymhidoi or Podiciptdw ; often curiously shaped, with various 

 ridges, furrows, or horny protuberances. Tail perfect, of few feathers. Lores com- 

 pletely feathered. Nostrils wholly variable in shape and position, naked or feathered. 

 Legs very variable. Coloration variable; head often with curious long curly crests. 

 No tibial apophysis. Usually (always?) an anconal sesamoid, sometimes double. 

 Carotids usually double (single in Al'ergulus). Nature altricial. Eggs few or single, 

 plain or variegated. The numerous species confined to the Northern hemisphere. 



As stated at p. 589, the ^k'if/a-— marine species without representatives in the Mis- 

 souri region — will not be presented in this work, while the Cohjmhidw and Podiciindce • 

 of North America will be treated monographically. The basis of tbo following account 

 was iirepared by the present writer several years ago for a report upon which ho was 

 then engaged with Dr. George Suckley.* It has, however, been entirely recast for the 

 present imrpose, and is altogether a different i^ajier. 



Family COLYMBID^ : Loons. 



For diagnosis see above. 



By many modern writers the Loons and Grebes are held as respectively co-mposing 

 the subfamilies Coliimhirur and Podicipimv, of a single family, Coli/mbidfC These divi- 

 sions correspond with the Colijmhi pedlMs palmatis and C. pedibvs lohaiis of Gmclin, the 



* An abstract of which was published in the Proceedings of the Philadelphia Acad- 

 emy of Natural Sciences for 18(32, pp. 226-2-33. 



