CHAPTER III. 

 THE LARID.E. 



"NOTWITHSTANDING the dissimilarity of the bill," says Mr. Vigors,* 

 "the Sterns and Rhynchops most intimately accord in habits and 

 external characters. The Gull-billed Tern of Colonel Montagu 

 conducts us from these genera to the groups which compose the 

 Linnean genus Larus now divided into two genera, Lestris and 

 Larus. From this group we are led to the genera Diomedea and 

 Haladroma, by the absence of the hind toe, by means of the species 

 Larus tridactylus (Latham), where, though the hind toe is not abso- 

 lutely different, as might be inferred from its name, there appears 

 but the rudiment of one. The last-mentioned genus, Haladroma, 

 originally belonged to Procellaria, and was separated from it by its 

 tridactyle foot. Even in this character, however, it forms a connection 

 from Larus to the groups that compose the genuine Procellaria, all 

 of which are distinguished by the singular peculiarity of having no 

 true hind foe, but only a nail adhering to the tarsus in its place. 

 We thus arrive at the Petrels, separated into groups of the Procellaria, 

 Pachyptila, Puffinius" 



THE LONGIPENNES (Cuvier). 



The grands voiliers, or long-winged Birds, are thus named from 

 their powerful and enduring faculty of flight. Mariners meet with 

 them everywhere, and easily recognise them by their long and pointed 

 wings, forked tails, and short legs. In this order the back toe 

 is unconnected with the others, or is wanting, and the membrane 

 which unites the others much notched; their bills are sharp and 

 pointed, and without indentations. They pass their lives at a great 

 distance from land, and do not approach the shore except for breed- 

 ing purposes, To this sub-order belong the Sea Swallows (Sterna), 



* " Linneau Transactions," vol. xiv. 



