INTRODUCTION. XXIX 



moderate, with the first. and second quills sub-equal. Tail short, of fourteen 

 feathers. Legs short ; three anterior toes, broadly weVjbed ; hind toe with a 

 deeply lobated membrane (p. 447). 



CEdemia, Fleming.— V^\\\ swollen or tuberculated at the base, large, elevated, 

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

 rounded and slightly deflected at the extremity ; lamellae 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 

 behind the centre of gravity ; tarsi short ; feet large ; 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 lobated membrane (p. 453). 



Mergus, Liii7tiviis.—V^\\\ 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, about the middle of the beak, longi- 

 tudinally elliptic. Wings moderate, the first and second quill-feathers nearly 

 equal in length. Legs short, placed i-ather backward ; three toes in front 

 webbed, hind toe with a pendant lobe or membrane (p. 459). 



Order COLUMBJE. 



Family COLUMBID-E. 



CoLUMBA, Linncucs. — Bill moderate, straight at the base, compressed, the point 

 deflected. 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. Tarsi short, 

 anteriorly scutellate, posteriorly scurfy ; three toes in front, entirely divided, 

 one toe behind (p. 467). 



TuRTUR, Selby. — Bill rather slender, the tip of the upper mandible gently 

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

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

 covering 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. Tarsi rather shorter than the 

 middle toe ; inner toe longer than the outer (p. 473). 



Order PTEROCLETES. 



Family PTKROCLID.K. 



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

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

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

 and tapering. Tarsi very short and strong, covered with downy feathers to 

 the toes, which are three in number, all in front, and united by a membrane 

 as far as the claws ; hind toe (hallux) obsolete ; soles rugose ; claws broad 

 and obtuse (p. 475). 



