Ardeino- Anserine Assemblage of Birds. 103 



in the shape of their palatines that they appear to be more 

 nearl}^ related to each other than to the other genera. The 

 ankylosis of the palatines extends as far as the lachrymals 

 and tiiroughout the whole length of tlie expanded part. Fre- 

 r/ata does not differ much in the shape of the palatines at 

 their posterior end, and they are ankylosed as far as the 

 lachrymals, though the distance is much shorter in conse- 

 quence of the comparative shortness of the frontal ; but the 

 lateral expansion of the palatines continues far beyond the 

 lachrymals. In Phaethon and Pelecanus the palatines are 

 narrowed for some distance from the pterygoids, and ex- 

 panded for some distance after they separate. In Pelecanus 

 the separation takes place in front of the lachrymals, and in 

 Phaethon behind them ; but having regard to the difference 

 in the length of the bill, the resemblance is very close. 

 Phaethon differs, however, from Pelecanus in having no ab- 

 solute coalescence between the two palatines, even where 

 they adjoin. 



The Steganopodes appear to be a well-defined group of 

 birds, but, like the Grallse, they seem to be the remains of a 

 once much larger group, noAV only represented by compara- 

 tively isolated families. They appear to be most nearly allied 

 to the Herodiones. They are distributed throughout the 

 tropical and temperate regions of both hemispheres, and are 

 numerous in individuals, but their total number of species is 

 very small, probably not much exceeding 50, 



The families comprising the Ardeino-Anserine Order of 

 Birds may be arranged as follows : — 



Palamede.b. 

 Palamedeidffi. 



Anseres. 

 Cygnidffi. 

 Anatidai. 



Ph(EN'ICOPTERI. 



PhcEuicopteridoe. 



