HIGH SCHOOL ZOOLOGY. 139 



hinder toe free ; the others are webbed, and the beak is covered with a 

 soft skin in which there are numerous tactile corpuscles, while the gape 

 is provided with horny lamelhe (hence Lamellirostres), which serve for 

 straining the muddy water in which they seek their food. The least 

 duck-like forms are the Mergansers, which have a serrated bill and dive 

 for fish. A very large number of species of wild ducks are known, from 

 one of which, the Mallard (Anas boschas), the domestic duck is derived. 

 To the same genus belong the Teal and Widgeon, but the Shoveller 

 (Sjwtula), Pin-tail (Dafla), Wootl-duck (Aix) and Iled-head and Canvas- 

 back {Aythya) are sufficiently different to be separated under distinct 

 genera. The same is true of the Buffle-head [CharUoneta), Harlequin 

 (HUtrionkm), the various species of Eiders (Somaleria) and Scoters, 

 and the Ruddy Duck {ErUmatura). The domestic goose is derived from 

 the European A riser cinereus, which genus is represented in America by 

 the white-fronted goose. Various allied forms, like the Canada goose 

 and Barnacle goose, are ranged under the genus Branta. To the same 

 order belong the Swans {CyjiwUe), and allied to it are the Flamingoes 

 (Phmnkoptcrus) with,' their singidar bent bills, very long legs and 

 brilliant plumage. 



21. In the next order (Herodiones), we have various genera which like 

 the Flamingoes have very long legs, the tibia and tarsus being much 

 elongated, but they diflFer from them in the structure of the bill, and also 

 from the following order in the same respect. Tlie bill has no cere or 

 fleshy part at the root as in the other waders, but it is very differently 

 shaped in the different genera, e.g., in the Spoonbills (Platalea) it is 

 flattened and spatulate at the tip, in the Ibises compressed and arched 

 downwards, in the Storks [Ckonin) much thicker than in the Herons 

 (ArdeidcE), from which the order derives its name. This family embraces 

 the Herons (Ardea), Bitterns (Botaurus), the Night Herons (Ni/cticora.r) ; 

 the rest of the waders are subdivided into marsh-birds and shore-birds. 

 To the former (Paludicolse) belong the Cranes (Gruidxe), and Rails 

 (RiiUidie) including the Gallinules and the Coots, while the latter 

 (Limicolae) emlirace the Avocets (liecurvirostra), Snipes {Gallinago,) 

 Woodcock {Ph'dohela), Sand-Pipers (Tringa and Totonus), Curlews 

 (Nuriienm.'i), and Plovers {Charadrius and jEijiaVti.H), etc. 



22. In contrast to the long-legged Waders we now come to the Galli- 

 nacei the legs of which are short, stout, and atlapted for scraping. The 

 Pheasant family (P/iaikmid"'), to which the domestic fowl belongs, is only 

 represented in Amei'ica by the wild turkey, McIcakji-Ih (jidlopavo, (the 

 probable stem-form of the domestic turkey), but it is abundantly repre 



