C26* Synopsis of Birds 



tioned ; body large, hardly compressed. Feet placed far 

 back, turned outward, robust ; tibia much drawn up into the 

 belly ; tarsus one third shorter than the middle toe, much 

 compressed; outer toe longest; inner shortest; webs full, 

 entire ; hind toe equal to a phalanx of the middle one. touch- 

 ing the ground only at tip, furnished with a broad membrane : 

 nails falculate. Wings moderate, very acute ; quills stiff; 

 first and second primaries subequal, longest. Tail short, 

 rounded, of from sixteen to twenty feathers. 



Female and young differing greatly from the adult male. 

 Moult annually, the adult male in spring, the female and 

 young in autumn ? Plumage extremely thick and compact. 

 Trachea of the male with two large expansions. 



Wild : untameable. Live on waters. Migrate according 

 to season, from cold to temperate countries. Keep in flocks, 

 the adult males generally by themselves, leaving the young 

 with the females. Extremely voracious : great destroyers of 

 fish. Feed almost exclusively on fishes, of which they swal- 

 low surprising large ones, also on reptiles and insects. Build 

 among grass near fresh water, rarely on bushes, or in hollow 

 trees ; nest lined with down ; eggs from eight to fourteen. 

 The male keeps near the nest while the female alone incu- 

 bates : young led to the water after food as soon as hitched, 

 by the mother only, the father showing great unconcern. 

 Swim deep in the water, the body submerged, the head only 

 out: dive by plunging, very deeply, and keep under water as 

 long as they can go without breathing ; reappearing at great 

 distances, moving with great speed under the surface. Walk 

 very awkwardly, in an erect posture. Fly very well, rapidly, 

 and for a long time. Flesh tough, bad tasted. 



Inhabit Arctic regions whence they migrate periodically. 

 Formed of but five species, wantonly multiplied : all the 

 European, and one besides, found in North America, the other 

 is South American. Connects its own Family with that of the 

 Pygopodes, which it resembles closely in habits. 



