ORDER NAT AT ORES. 



FAM. ANATID.E. 



Ext. Char. Rostrum magnum epidermide molli potius quam cornuo veritabili tectum ; 

 lateribus lamellis vel dentibus parvis armatis. Lingua magna camosa lateribus setis instructis. 

 Ahe mediocres. Pedes fere vel omnino in equilibrio locati, digitis tribus anterioribus membrane- 

 junctis. 



Anat. Char. Sternum et pelvis magna et lata. Gigeria magna camosa Cceca longa. 

 Larynx inferior in maribus fere bulbosa. Trachea aliquando convoluta, seepius bulbosa. 

 Hahitatio aquatica, 



Ext. Char. Bill large, covered with a soft epidermis rather than true horn, the sides 

 armed with lamella? or small teeth. Tongue large fleshy, with the margins toothed. Wings mode- 

 rate. Feet placed in or near the equilibrium. Toes, with the three anterior ones, joined by a 

 membrane. Neck long. 



Anat. Char. Sternum and pelvis large and broad. Gizzard large and fleshy. Cceca 

 long. Trachea sometimes convoluted, more often bulbous. The inferior Larynx in the male 

 commonly bulbous. Inhabits the water. 



The intestinal anatomy of the family Anatidm is characterised by the very great length of 

 the alimentary canal compared to that of the bird : in some instances it is as many as five times its 

 length, or even more. The caecal appendages are also much elongated, being often equal to more 

 than one-third the length of the body. The stomach is always large and muscular, forming a true 

 gizzard. The oesophagus varies little in its diameter, but is generally slightly enlarged a little 

 above the gizzard, again contracted, and then of nearly uniform diameter to the glottis. 



The skeleton may be known by the length of the neck, and the great number of vertebrae 

 of which it is composed, the large size of the sternum, the great developement of its keel and the 

 form of its posterior extremity, which is- always perforated by two foramina or indented by two 

 fissures ; the great length as well as breadth of the pelvis ; the laterally flattened and anteriorly 

 arched form of the rami of the os furcatum. The truncate form and great depth of the occipital 

 portion of the cranium in a vertical direction, and by the fibula not being entirely anchylosed to the 

 tibia. 



Affinities. Considerable resemblance to the Divers is shewn in the Merginm and Erisma- 

 turinee in outward form, in the structure of the tail and the dense oily nature of the plumage. The 



