: 
ORDER NATATORES. 
FAM, ANATIDA. | 
Ext. Cuar. ostrum magnum epidermide molli potius quam — 
_cornuo veritabili tectum ; lateribus lamellis vel dentibus parvis armatis, — 
Lingua magna carnosa lateribus setis instructis.. Ale mediocres. 
_ Pedes fere vel omnino in equilibrio locati, digitis tribus anterioribus _ 
-mémbrano junctis. 
Exn Cuar. Bill large, covered with a soft epidermis rather than. fe 
true horn, the sides armed with lamelle or small teeth. Tongue lar ga, o> 
fleshy, with the margins toothed. Wings moderate. Feet placed in 
or near the equilibrium. Toes with the three anterior ones joine! 
by amembrane. Neck sone 
SUB FAM. I. PLECTROPTERINA. 
Ext. Car. ostrum magnum, ad apicem augustatum, et ungue 
magna instructé. Plume inter oculos rostrumque carent. Tibie 
parte quarta denudate.  Pedes validi, digitis unguibus magnis 
instructis. 
Ext. Cuan. Bill large, narrow at the apex, and armed with a large 
claw. The space between the eyes and bill devoid of feathers. 
Thighs denuded for a quarter of their length. et strong, armed 
with sharp claws. 
Affinities. This curious group appears to lead directly to the 
_grallatorial birds, but with the flamingo in particular it coincides to 
_a great degree in the intestinal anatomy; while its skeleton—at least 
the fragments of it we have inspected—is that of a true goose, that 
of the flamingo approaching most intimately the Ardeide, which in our 
opinion (although in some particulars its intestinal anatomy appears 
to accord with the Anatide) entirely precludes it from being admitted 
into the order. 
B 
