Zoological Society, 279 



This species is the largest of the subfamily, which is well known 

 to contain the dwarfs of the Water birds ; it is one-third larger than 

 Ceratorrhina monocerota, of which it has precisely the colouring, 

 wanting only (at least in the state we have it) the little white feathers 

 above the eye and at the corners of the mouth. The proportions of 

 wings, tail, feet and toes are the same : the bill and toes must have 

 been reddish ; the cere and membranes black. Like the Cerator- 

 rhina, it seems to be confined to the North-western Arctic regions of 

 America ; and we are led to believe it does not extend to the Siberian 

 shores, from the circumstance of its not having been noticed by 

 Russian naturahsts. 



The well-marked family of Alcidee forms, with the Colj/mbid/s, 

 PodicipidcB and Spheniscid<B, the great section of the TJrinatores, 

 which, with the Lamellirostres, constitutes alone the Order Anseres, 

 as it must be restricted to the web-footed Prcecoces of Prof. Owen. 

 The other two sections, Longipennes and Totipalmi, constitute now 

 the Order Gavice of my Conspectus, being, in fact, web-footed Altri- 

 ces, which have no more right to remain in Anseres than the Pigeons 

 among the Gallinee, — than the Herodiones among the Grallce. The 

 passage between my Gavice or web-footed Altrices, and my Herodiones 

 or grallatorial Altrices, is beautifully exemplified by that most re- 

 markable bird the Balceniceps, whose affinity with Pe/ecanidce has so 

 well been pointed out, and even exaggerated, by Mr. Gould. On the 

 other hand, it is no less obvious that the Longipennes, some of which, 

 with tumid bills, have been considered as Sea-Pigeons, connect them 

 (the Gavice) with the Colu/nbcs ; whilst between the two subclasses 

 the connections and correspondence (affinity and analogy) take place 

 in different degrees and by different means and sides, chiefly as 

 exempUfied in the following table : — 



AVES. 



