10 PROF. W. LILLJEBORG ON THE CLASS OF BIRDS. [Jan. 9, 



Order 2. Longipennes, Dumeril. 



The legs are not so far back ; and the hind toe, when there is one, 

 is free. The wings long, extending more or less beyond the base of 

 the tail. They are generally light birds, and lie, when swimming, 

 shallow in the water, and cannot, with a few exceptions, dive, unless 

 they dart from the air into the water, which power a great many of 

 them possess. They generally fly remarkably well. 



Order 3. Steganopodes, Illiger. 



The hind toe united to the inner anterior toe by a web, and its base 

 but slightly raised above that of the anterior toes. The wings and 

 tail rather large, the former sometimes pointed and sometimes ob- 

 tuse. Some of these birds are pelagic, fly remarkably well, and are 

 darting divers ; some fly badly, but dive and swim well. The posi- 

 tion of the hind toe enables some of them at times to sit on the 

 branches of trees and to build their nests there. 



Group 2. LAMELLIROSTRES. 



The bill with laminae. Generally singly monogamous*. " Prse- 

 coces ;" that is, do not carry food to their young. 



Order 4. Lamellirostres, Cuvier. 



The point of the upper jaw with a so-called nail of the bill ; the 

 other part of the bill covered with a soft skin. The hind toe free. 

 The body generally more or less thick and heavy. The power of flight 

 sometimes moderate, sometimes rather inferior. Those that fly best 

 dive badly, or cannot dive at all ; the others lie, when swimming, 

 deep in the water, and dive exceedingly well. Some of the former 

 are rather fast walkers, and approach in this respect the next division. 



Second Division or Subclass. 

 CURSORES, Illiger ; Sundevall. 



The entire eras and the lower part of the femur free. The base 

 of the hind toe above that of the anterior toesf ; the hind toe some- 

 times missing. The anterior toes, when united by a web, are, with 

 very few exceptions, so united only at the base. The large upper 

 wing-coverts of the first row on the lower arm extend beyond the 

 middle of the cubital epulis. They have, with the exception of Rhea 

 and Fhcenicopterus, as far as is known, two carotides communes. 



Order 5. Grall^e, Linne. 



The legs high, and the lower part of the crus without feathers %. 

 The wings well adapted for flying. The pectoral bone with a crista. 



* The female alone cares for the young. 



t The majority of the Ardeidm make an exception to this ; and these live and 

 build very often in trees. 



\ The genus Scolopax deviates from this. 



