260 



THE SCIENCE OF LIFE. 



flight. The legs are placed far back, and the wings 

 assist the webbed feet as paddles. 



The Cormorants, Pelicans, Gulls, Petrels, and Terns 

 (Fig. 155) form the group of Longipinnatce, or Long- 

 wings. The beak is hooked and pointed, the tip being 

 often very hard. The Albatross, one of the largest and 

 most beautiful birds of flight, belongs to this group. 



The Lamellirostres, or Flat-bills, form a third division, 

 including Ducks, (Fig. 156,) Geese, Swans, and Flamin- 



t 



FIG. 156. Wild Duck, (Anas l>oschas.) North America. 



goes, whose bills are horizontally compressed, coverec 

 with a soft cuticle supplied with twigs from the fifth 

 nerve, and have fringed sides, which strain the muddy 

 food. 



Order 2. Grallatores, or Waders, (grallce, stilts,) have 

 long, stilt-like legs, toes free, wings large and powerful. 



