398 Synopsis of the Birds 



Male white, varied with black ; crown white. 



Female cinereous, beneath white ; crown reddish-brown- 



Smew, or White Nun, Mergus albellus, Wils. Am. Om 

 viii. p. I26.pl. 71. Jig. 4. male. 



Inhabits the north of both continents : very rare in the 

 middle states : common in the northern, and in most parts of 

 Europe. 



FAMILY XXVI. STEGANOPODES. 



Steganopodes, Lobipedes, III. Pinnipedes, Dumeril. To- 

 tipalmes, Cuv. Syndactyli, Urinatores, Vieill. Pelecanidi, 

 Goldfuss. Pelecani, Oken, Eoie. Crypiorini, Blainville. 

 Unodaciyli, Latr. Steganopodi, Podoa, Ranz. Pelecanidcc, 

 Rallida, Vigors. Steganopodes, Lobipedes, Nob. View of 

 the Families. (23.) 



Bill longer than the head : nostrils linear, often incon- 

 spicuous : tongue very short. Skin of the throat generally 

 naked, dilatable. Feet nearly central, short, robust, 4-toed ; 

 tibia half, or entirely feathered ; (in one genus tarsus also 

 half feathered j) a great portion of the tibia drawn up into 

 the belly ; toes long, all four connected by a broad mem- 

 brane, in one genus only, deeply scalloped ; hind toe articu- 

 lated with the tarsus internally, almost on a level with the 

 others, directed forward : nails robust, curved, acute. Wings 

 long ; one of the first two primaries longest. Tail of twelve,, 

 fourteen, or twenty feathers. 



Female smaller, similar to the male. Young differing 

 greatly from the adult, and changing repeatedly. Moult once 

 or twice in the year, scarcely changing the colors of their 

 plumage. 



Walk awkwardly. Rest on the branches of trees, which, 

 as well as other objects, they are capable of grasping, though 

 they may be styled web-footed by eminence. Dive with 

 great agility, several also under water : the long-winged 



