THE CIASSIPIOATION OF BIEDS. 279 



stitute the family Cygnidm, while the Ducks " form that called 

 Anatid(B. The sixth family Fuligulidce is one of which the 

 Harlequin Duck is a type. The family Erismafuridce is one 

 containing only about nine species, and takes its name from a 

 genus which ranges from Southern Europe to the "West Indies, 

 ChUi, the Auckland Islands, South Africa, and Australia. The 

 eighth famUy is termed Mergidce, from the Goosander ^ which, 

 with allied forms, is included within it. The ninth and last 

 family Pdlamedeidce takes its name (as does the suborder which 

 contains it) from that curious Horned Screamer' of South 

 America, which it seems we must regard as a much modified 

 arboreal form of Goose. 



The sixteenth order, that named Itnpennes, is a small but very 

 peculiar one, of but 19 species, in which the following characters 

 are to be observed : — 



Order XVI. IMPENNES. 



First and second digits of the hand fused together in the 

 adult condition ; three metatarsals, very short and separated by 

 deep grooves their whole length ; no quill-feathers in the wing ; 

 palate schizognathous ; young born helpless, and covered with 

 down; spinal 'feather-tract not defined on the neck ; no power 

 of flight ; eoracoids very large and strong ; scapula broad. 



In this order there is but a single family, whereof the King 

 Penguin * is a type, and which may be therefore termed Apteno- 



The seventeenth order, Grypturi, is twice as numerous as the 

 preceding one. It has the following characters : — 



Order XVn. CEYPTUEI. 



Keel of sternum well developed as usual, but placed on a 

 very narrow median xiphoid process ; two narrow xiphoid pro- 

 cesses on either side of it; ilium and ischium connected by 

 cartilage behind the acetabulum; vomer coalescing with the 



1 P. 14. ^ P. 16. ' P. 47. * P. 24. 



