202 BIEDS — ORDERS OF BIRDS. 



abbreviated. Tail short and few-featlaered. Head narrow, conioo-elongated, 

 gradually contracting to the large, stout base of the bill. Gape of the bill 

 deeply fissured: tip usually acute; tomia hard and cutting. Bill conico- 

 elongate, always longer than the head, stout and firm. Nostrils small, placed 

 high up, with entire bony and horny, or only slightly membranous, surround- 

 ings. Pterylosis nearly peculiar in the presence, almost throughout the group, 

 of powder-down tracts, rarely found elsewhere ; pterylse very narrow. Palate 

 desmognathous. Carotids double. Altricial. 



I. ALECTORIDES. Tibiae naked below. Neck, legs, and feet much as in the last 

 group, but hallux reduced and obviously elevated, with small claw, the result- 

 ing foot cursorial (natatorial and lobate in Fulica). Wings and tail commonly 

 as in Herodiones. Head less narrowed and conic than in the last, fully feath- 

 ered or with extensive baldness (not with definite nakedness of loral and orb- 

 ital region!-.). Bill of various shape, nsually lengthened and obtuse, never ex- 

 tensively membranous. Rictus moderate. Nostrils lower than in Serodiones. 

 Pterylosis not peculiar. Palate schizognathous. Carotids double. Nature 

 prsecocial and ptilopsedic. 



J. LAMELLIEOSTRES. Feet palmate; tibiae feathered (except Phoenioopterus). 

 Legs near the centre of equilibrium of the body, its axis horizontal in walk- 

 ing ; not lengthened except in Phainioopierus. Knee joint rarely exserted be- 

 yond general skin of the body. Wings moderate, reaching, when folded, to, 

 but not beyond, the usually short and rounded (exceptionally long and cnne- 

 ate) tail. Feet tetradaotyle (except sometimes in Phcenicoptenis) ; hallux re- 

 duced, elevated and free, often independently lobate. Bill lammellate, i. e., 

 furnished along each commissural edge with a regular series of mutually 

 adapted laminae or tooth-like processes, with which correspond certain lan- 

 cinate processes of the fleshy tongue, which ends in a horny tip. Bill large, 

 thick, high at base, depressed towards the end, membranous to the broad, ob- 

 tuse tip, which is occupied by a horny nail of various shape. Nostrils patent, 

 never tubular, nasal fossae slight. No gular pouch. Plumage dense, to resist 

 water. Eyes very small. Head high, compressed, with lengthened, sloping 

 frontal region. Palate desmognathous. Reproduction precocial; young ptilo- 

 paedic. Eggs numerous. Carotids double. Sternum single notched. 



K. STEGANOPODES. Feet totipalmate; hallux lengthened, nearly incumbent, 

 semilateral, completely united with the second toe by a full web. Tibiae 

 feathered ; position of legs with reference to axis of bod^- variable, but gen- 

 erally far posterior; knee joint not free. Wings and tail variable. BUI of 

 very variable shape, never lamellate, wholly corneons; its tomiae often ser- 

 rate; external nares very small or finally abortive. A prominent gular pouch. 

 Tarsi reticulate. Sternum entirely or nearly so ; furculum confluent with its 

 keel. Carotids double. Palate highly desmognathous. Reproduction altri- 

 cial ; young psilopaedic or ptilopaadic. Eggs three or fewer. 



L. LONGIPENNES. Feet palmate. Tibiae feathered. Legs at or near the center 

 of equilibrium, affording horizontal position of axis of body in walking. 

 Knee scarcely buried in common integument; tibia sometimes with a long 

 apophysis. Hallux elevated, free, functionless ; very small, rudimentary or 

 wanting. Rostrum of variable shape, usually compressed and straight to the 

 hooked end, sometimes entirely straight and acute, commonly lengthened, 

 always corneous, without serration or true lamellae. Nostrils of various 



