INTRODUCTION. XXIX 



CEdemia, Fkj>niig.— 'B\\\ swollen or tuberculated at the base, large, elevated, 

 and strong ; the tip much depressed, and terminated by a large flat nail, 

 rounded and slightly deflexed at the extremity ; lamella; broad, strong, and 

 widely set. Nostrils lateral, elevated, oval, placed near the middle of the 

 bill. Wings rather short, pointed. Tail short, graduated, acute. Legs far 

 back ; tarsus short ; three toes in front and one behind ; the outer toe as 

 long as the middle one and much longer than the tarsus ; hind toe with a 

 large lobed membrane. Sexes differ in plumage (p. 465). 



Mergtjs, Linnceiis. — Bill about as long or longer than the head, straight, slender, 

 rather pointed, the base large, forming an elongated and almost cylindrical 

 cone ; point of the upper mandible curved and, with the horny nail, forming 

 a hook ; edges of both mandibles furnished with saw-like teeth, the points 

 directed backwards. Nostrils lateral, longitudinally elliptic. Wings moder- 

 ate, the first and second quills nearly equal. Legs short, placed rather far 

 back ; three toes in front weighed, hind toe with a pendant lobe. Sexes 

 differ in plumage (p. 471). 



Order COLUMBJE. 



Family COLUMBID.E. 



COLUMBA, Linnaus.— WiX moderate, straight at the base, compressed, the point 

 deflexed. Base of the upper mandible covered with a soft skin, in which 

 the nostrils are pierced. Wings long, broad, rather pointed ; the second 

 quill-feather longest. Tail of twelve feathers, nearly even. Tarsus short, 

 anteriorly scutellated ; three toes in front, entirely divided from one another, 

 one toe behind (p. 479). 



TuRTUR, .S'(7/;i'.— Bill rather slender, the tip of the upper mandible gently 

 deflexed, that of the lower scarcely exhibiting the appearance of an angle ; 

 base of the upper mandible covered with two soft, tumid, bare swellings 

 over the nostrils. Tail of twelve feathers, rather long and considerably 

 rounded or graduated. Wings rather long and pointed, the first quill a little 

 shorter than the second, which is the longest. Tarsus rather shorter than the 

 middle toe ; inner toe longer than the outer (p. 485). 



Order PTEROCLETES. 



Family PTKROCLID.E. 



Syrrhaptes, Illiger. — Bill small, gradually decurved from the base to the point. 

 Nostrils basal, hidden in the feathers. Wings very long, pointed, the first 

 primary the longest. Tail of sixteen feathers, cuneate, the two central 

 rectrices long and tapering. Tarsus very short and strong, covered with 

 downy feathers to the three anterior toes, which are united by a membrane 

 as far as the claws ; hind toe obsolete ; soles rugose ; claws broad and obtuse 

 (p. 488). 



