PALMIPEDES. 375 



circular plan on which the animal world seems to 

 have been primarily formed. 



FAMILY IV. THE BROAD-BILLS. 



This well-marked division comprises such birds as 

 have a thick, flattened bill, covered with a membrane 

 instead of horn, the edges of which are beset with 

 narrow ridges, or teeth ; a tongue thick and fleshy, 

 and notched at the edges; and toes well webbed. 

 Most of them possess a medium power of flight ; but 

 they do not, in general, wander far from the land, 

 many being confined to rivers, and inland lakes, or 

 ponds. In form and habit this family seems to be 

 more closely allied to the Divers than to either of the 

 others. 



Phoenicopterus,* the Flamingo. 



Regarding the long feet and naked legs of this 

 bird, Cuvier, and all preceding zoologists, arranged it 

 with the Waders, with which, indeed, it has much in 

 common. The thickness of the bill, however; the 

 tooth-like ridges on its edges ; the fleshy, large, and 

 notched tongue ; and the feet decidedly webbed, jus- 

 tify Mr. Swainson in placing it among the Ducks, as 

 the connecting link by which the two Orders are 

 most obviously united. The neck and legs of this 

 bird are of great length ; the head is small, but the 



* $w|, phoinix, scarlet, and STT^OV, ptcron, a wing. 



