SYNOPSIS 



OF 



NOKriI AMEHICAN OKDEKS OF WATER BIRDS. 



A^ Leys li'ii^tlK'iied, tin- tiliiiu usually lU'iiuiU'il for u coiisidfralili' distauci' aliovt- tlic kiii.'e. 

 not fully wi'libed, fXi'i'iit in Iticiirriivntru iiiul J'lMiiicopUriis. (Waders.) 



TOL'S 



I. HERODIONES. Nirk uml logs inuch longthiMied. Hind toe inucli Ienjj;tliened, and 

 inserti'd at the saiui- li'Vcl as tlii' anturior toes (sliovtiTand sli:,ditly ulevati'd in Cicuniida). 

 llaliits altricial ' and youn^ dasyjuLMlii'.'- Palate desniO},'iiatlious. Carotids double, 



II. XiIMICOLiB. Xi'tk and legs usually elongated (tlii> latter siinii'times excessively so), 

 the tibiio usually more or less naked lielow. Hind toe short or rudinienttiry, sonietiiues 

 absent, and inserted above the level of the anterior toes. Habits pneeocial,* and young 

 dasy]iiwlio. Palate sehi/.ognathous. Carotids double. 



III. AIiBCTORIDES. Hind toe small and elevated (but neck much lenRtheued and bill 



strong and hard) in llntiilif ; lengthened and ineumbent in Ammiihv and liallidiV. 

 Wings eoniparatively short and rounded, anil body eoniiiressed (except in Gntidn). 

 Habits jiriueoeial, ami young dasypiedic. Palate .scbizognathous. Carotids double. 



IV. PHCBNICOPTERI. Xeek and legs excessively elongated, the anterior toes webbed, 



and the tibia' naked fur the greater part of their length. Hind toe snnill and elevated, 

 or wholly absiyU. Hill of very peculiar form, being greatly thickened and abruptly 

 bent downward from the middle portion, the tomia provided with lamellie, as in the 

 Anisens. Habits pr.vcocial and young dasypa-dic. Palate saurognathous. Carotids 

 double, but the left much reduced in size. 



B» Legs short, the tibia- wholly or mostly feathered, .\nterior toes distinctly (usiudly fully) 

 webbed, or else broadly loU'd and provided with bruiul ilat nails {Fodicipidie'). 

 (Swimmers.) 



v. ANSERES. Hill liroad and dei>ressed (nearly cylindrical in Mirijince), the tip provided 

 with a distinct nail or unguis, and the tomia with vertical lainelhu or straiiun-s (more 

 tooth-like in ^Vdv/iiki). Habits priucocial, young dasypx>dic. Palate saurognatLous. 

 Carotids double. 



1 Altricial biids are those whoso young are hatched in ii blind and helple.ss condition, and are reared in 

 the nest luitil able to tly. 



" Young birds which luv covered with down when hatched are said to Iw da.sypajdie ; «'. g,, chicks of the 

 Domestic Fowl and other gallinaceous birds, (hickliiigs, etc. 



' I'ra'cocial birds arc tliu.se whose young arc cajiable of running about as soon as hatched, and although 

 led and otherwise oared for by the parents, are not fed by them ; e. ij., the young of the Domestic Fowl 

 Ducks, Oeese, etc. 



