Order CHENOMORPH^. 



The characteristics of this order, as defined by Huxley, are : 

 palate desmognathous ; young covered with down and able to run 

 or swim in a few hours after hatching. 



The order is divided into three suborders, but with the first 

 of these— the " Palamedese, or Screamers " — we have nothing to do, 

 as they are confined to the Neotropical Eegion and do not visit our 

 part of the world. 



The two remaining suborders are the Phcenicopteri, or Flamingoes, 

 and the Anseres, or true Swans, Geese, and Ducks. There can be no 

 chance of these two being confounded by anyone, as the two forms 

 are so widely different. 



Key to Suborders. 



A. Tarsus three times the length of femur : bill strongly 



bent downwards in the centre Pltanicopteri. 



B. Tarsus about tlie same length as the femur ; bill not 



bent, but straight Anscrcs. 



The suborder Phcenicopteri contains but one family — the 

 Phoenicopteridas — and that family (so far as we are concerned) 

 but two genera, both of which contain but a single species. 



Key to Genera. 



A. Upper mandible overlapping lower ; throat naked . . Phanicopterus. 



B. Upper mandible not overlapping ; throat feathered . . Phceniconaias. 



