2^8 BliBMBNTS OF OENITHOLOGX. 



Bill almost always flattened and laterally expanded, or, if not, 

 then either without uncinate processes, or bill so bent that its 

 distal part is almost at right angles with its proximal part. 



Suborder 1. PJwsrdco^teri. 



Basipterygoid processes absent or rudimentary; biU bent 

 vertical almost at right angles; nasals holorhinal; uncinate 

 processes present ; mandible produced and recurved behind its 

 articulation with the quadrate ; maxillo-palatines large and 

 spongy ; frontals narrow ; grooves for orbital glands ; a tufted 

 oil-gland ; cseca well developed. 



Suborder 2. Anseres. 

 Basipterygoid processes articulate with pterygoids as near 

 palatines as possible ; maxiUo-palatines coalesced in the middle 

 line, but not large and spongy ; biU flattened and laterally ex- 

 panded ; uncinate processes present ; mandible extending back 

 beyond quadrate and recurved ; sternum with one posterior, 

 shallow notch ; oil-gland tufted. 



Suborder 3. Palamedew. 

 Basipterygoid processes present; bUl neither laterally ex- 

 panded nor vertically bent at right angles ; cervical vertebrae 

 more than 18 ; no uncinate processes ; maxiUo-palatines not 

 large and spongy ; mandible not much produced backwards 

 but recurved ; no spinal bare tract ; oil-gland tufted ; cseca 

 present. 



There are nine families in the order, seven of which belong to 

 the suborder " Anseres." 



The first family PJioenicopteridce includes only the Flamingoes ^ ; 

 the second, Plectropteridce, is named from a genus Plectropterus, 

 which contains two species from Tropical Africa. The third 

 family, Anseridce, includes the true Geese "- The Swans ' con- 



1 P. 34. 2 p 14. 3 P i5_ 



