606 MANUAL OF ZOOLOGY. 



very narrow membranous lobe, and the laminae of the upper 

 mandible generally projecting. As examples may be taken 

 the Mallards and Teals (Boschas}, the Widgeons (Mareca), the 

 Shoveller (Anas), and the Pin- tail Ducks (Dafila). The Sea- 

 ducks (Fuligulina) frequent the sea chiefly, and have the hallux 

 furnished with a wide membranous lobe. Good examples 

 are the Eider-duck (Somaterid), the Surf-duck (Oidemia), the 

 Canvass-back Duck and Pochard (Fuligula), and the Golden- 

 eye (Clangula). 



The Anserince are distinguished from the Ducks chiefly 

 by their stronger and longer legs, and comparatively shorter 

 wings. Good examples are the Grey Lag (Anser ferus), the 

 Canada Goose (A. canadensis), the Bean-goose (A. segetum), 

 and the Snow-goose (A. hyperboreus) . All the domesticated 

 varieties of Geese appear to be undoubtedly descended from 

 the " Grey Lag " Goose, a common wild species which is found 

 in marshy districts in Europe generally, in Northern Africa, 

 and as far east as Persia. 



In the Swans the neck is extremely long, and the legs are 

 short. In the Hooper Swan (Cy gnus ferns] the sternal keel is 

 double, and forms a cavity for the reception of a convoluted 

 portion of the trachea. This is not the case, however, with 

 the Mute Swan (C. olor], the Black Swan (C. atratus\ or the 

 Trumpeter Swan (C buccinator], all well-known members of 

 the group. 



The Flamingoes, however, forming the group of the Phxnicop- 

 teridce, require some notice, if only for the fact that the legs are 

 so long and slender that they have often been placed in the 

 order Grallatores on this account. The three anterior toes, 

 however, are webbed or completely united by membrane, and 

 the bill is lamellate, so that there can be little hesitation in 

 leaving the Flamingo in its present position amongst the Nata- 

 tores. The bill is singularly bent, both mandibles being sud- 

 denly curved downwards from the middle. The common 

 Flamingo (Phcenicopterus ruber) occurs abundantly in various 

 parts of southern Europe. It stands between three and four 

 feet in height, the general plumage being rose-coloured, the 

 wing-coverts red, and the quill-feathers of the wings black. 

 The tongue is fleshy, and one of the extravagances of the 

 Romans during the later period of the Empire was to have 

 dishes composed solely of Flamingoes' tongues. Other species 

 occur in South America and Africa. 



As regards the distribution of the Natatores in time, the 

 earliest traces of the order are found in the Cretaceous rocks. 

 In deposits of this age in the United States, Professor Marsh 



