440 EEVIEVv' OF BIRDS. 



rior toes, the hind toe sometimes absent. Legs short ; and the anterior toes, 

 sometimes even the hind toes, united by web. The upper h^rge wing-coverts of 

 the first row on the lower arm (antibrachium) extend in all beyond the middle 

 of the cubital quills. All, with the exception of Podiceps, have, as far as is 

 known, two carotides communes. 



Group 1. SIMPLICIEOSTRES. 



The bill without lamince. Doubly monogamous.* " Altrices ;" that is, carry 

 food to their young. 



Order 1. Ptgopodes, niiger. 



The legs are placed far back ; and the hind toe is, when it is present, free. 

 The wings short, hardly extending to the base of the tail. The tail short, or 

 none at all. Heavy, clumsy birds, that dive well, but walk badly. 



Xote. — This order contains the typical forms of Natatores. 



Order 2. Longipennes, Dum6riL 



The legs are not so far back ; and the hind toe, when there is one, is free. 

 The wings long, extending more or less beyond the base of the tail. They are 

 generally light birds, and lie, when swimming, shallow in the water, and can- 

 not, with a few exceptions, dive, unless they dart from the air into the water, 

 which power a great many of them possess. They generally fly remarkably 

 well. 



Order 3. Steganopodes, Illiger. 



The hind toe united to the inner anterior toe by a web, and its base but 

 slightly raised above that of the anterior toes. The wings and tail rather large, 

 the former sometimes pointed and sometimes obtuse. Some of these birds are 

 pelagic, fly remarkably well, and are darting divers ; some fly badly, but dive 

 and swim well. The position of the hind toe enables some of them at times to 

 sit on the branches of trees and to build their nests tliei-e. 



Group 2. LAMELLIEOSTEES. 



The bill with laminse. Generally singly monogamous.t " Praecoces ;" that 

 is, do not carry food to their young. 



Order 4. Lamellirostres, Cuvier. 



The point of the upper jaw with a so-called nail of the bill ; the other part of 

 the bill covered with a soft skin. The hind toe free. The body generally more 

 or less thick and heavy. The power of flight sometimes moderate, sometimes 

 rather inferior. Those that fly best dive badly, or cannot dive at all ; the others 

 lie, when swimming, deep in the water, and dive exceedingly well. Some of 

 the former are rather fast walkers, and approach in this respect the next divi- 

 sion. 



8ccoutl Sivisiou or Snb-class. 



CuRSORES, Illiger ; SundevalL 



The entire eras and the lovrer part of the femur free. The base of the hind 

 toe above that of the anterior toes ;| the hind toe sometimes missing. The an- 

 terior toes, when united by a web, are, with very few exceptions, so united only 



— t- — - — ■ — - 



* Both the old ones sit on the eggs, take care of the young, and carry food to them. 



t The female alone cares for the young. 



X The majority of the Ardeida make an exception to this ; and these live and build very 



often in trct-s. 



