INTRODUCTION. 



Family PLATALEIU.E. 



Platalea, Linnaus. — Bill long, and much flattened, dilated at the point and 

 rounded in the form of a spoon ; upper mandible channelled and transversely 

 grooved at the base. Nostrils on the upper surface of the beak, near 

 together, oblong, open, bordered by a membrane. Forehead, lores, orbits 

 and chin naked. Wings rather large ; the third quill nearly as long as the 

 second, which is the longest. Legs long and robust ; three toes in front, 

 united as far as the second articulation by a membrane, the marginal edge of 

 which is deeply incised ; hind toe long (p. 393). 



Order ODONTOGLOSS-SJ. 



Family PHCENICOPTERID.E. 



Phcexicopterus, Brisson. — Bill longer than the head, abruptly bent in the 

 middle ; edges of both mandibles furnished with fine transverse plates 

 (lamellos). Nostrils, linear, sub-basal. Neck very long and slender. Wings 

 moderately long, the first quill slightly the longest ; the inner secondaries 

 longer than, and folding over, the closed primaries. Tail short, even. Legs 

 very long and slender ; the chief portion of the tibia bare ; tarsus broadly 

 scutellated ; toes short, the three anterior ones palmated, with incised webs ; 

 hind toe elevated, free, and small ; claws flattened and obtuse (p. 395). 



Order ANSERES. 



Family ANATID.E. 



AnseR; Brisson. — Bill nearly as long as the head, sub-conical, elevated at the 

 basal portion, which is covered with a cere or skin ; a conspicuous nail 

 (unguis) at the tip ; under mandible smaller than the upper. Nostrils lateral, 

 placed towards the middle of the beak. Wings large, the second quill 

 longest. Tail of sixteen feathers. Tursus moderately long ; the hind toe 

 free, without a lobe, articulated upon the tarsus ; the three anterior toe 

 united by a membrane. Sexes alike in plumage (p. 397). 



Chen, Boie. — Bill shorter than the head, very robust, and higher than broad 

 at the base ; culmen slightly convex, the outline of the lower mandible 

 decidedly so, leaving an elliptical space displaying the lamellje. Nostrils 

 sub-basal. Feathers on the neck less conspicuously furrowed than in true 

 Anse): Wings long, full, the second quill the longest. Tail rather short 

 and rounded. Tibia feathered to the joint ; tarsus moderately long, reticu- 

 lated ; three anterior toes connected by a membrane ; hind toe short and 

 elevated. Sexes alike in plumage (p. 405). 



Bermcla, Boie. — Bill much shorter than the head, sub-conical, higher than 

 broad at the base, narrowing to the tip ; nail broadly ovate ; edges of the 

 bill nearly straight, scarcely showing the margins of the lamellse. Nostrils 

 oval, placed in the anterior portion of the nasal depression, near the centre 

 of the bill. Feathers on the neck narrow, blended. Wings large, the second 

 quill usually the longest. Tail short, rounded. I^egs short and stout, the 

 tarsus reticulated ; the three anterior toes long, united by a membrane ; hind 



