ae. 
and they possess, above all others, the most astonishi: ny 
ANATIDE. 
186 ON THE CLASSIFICATION OF 3 
from what we have already stated, bi is } 
which will result from attentively consideri ‘ing tl 
racteristic distinctions of this family. As vepihe 
of the natatorial form, they have the shortest 
any birds in existence ; they live upon the ocala al 
they are the most bulky of the order: as, on the othe 
hand, representing the Fissirostres, the tip of their bil 
is suddenly hooked ; they have an enormous wide mouth 
powers of flight.* Condensing these remarks into 
tabular form, we may state the analogies thus: — 
ANALOGIES Of the NATATORIAL FAMILIES. 
Tribes of the Orders of - 2 
Insessores. Birds. 
Families of the 
Swimming Order. General Analogies. 
' Pre-eminently typical of q 
CoLYMBID. their own circles ; bill + CONIROSTRES. Inseasonmall 
lengthened, conic. 
pa 
{ Denrmosrres. RAPTORES. 
4 
Bill short, arched above, 
ALCID&, the tip bent down. 
\ 
Size large; mouth very — 
wide; feet very short = 
and imperfect ; live at FIssIROSTRES. NATATORES. 
sea, 
PELECANIDA. 
long; legs lengthened ; 
ambulating, but web- 
; Bill slender; nostrils very 
LaRIpz& } 
bed. 
TENUIROSTRES. GRALLATORES, 
Py 
Eminently domestic ; 
wings short, convex. 
i SCANSORES. RasorEs. — r 
(207.) Now this exposition will, probably, be though a 
by most of our readers, sufficiently satisfactory ; and y 
the experienced, ornithologist, who remembers wha it 
we have advanced on a former occasiont, will ite 
it is beset with many difficulties and apparent contra- 
dictions. . These we shall now state, and endeavo a 
answer. It is far from our wish or intention to strengthe 
our theory by glossing over objections, as if all o 
conclusions were infallible, or that no exceptions exi a ! 
to the truth of those laws which we venture to think 
have regulated the variations of the animal kingdor 
We have been accused, indeed, of being too a | 
* See more particularly, on the Tachipetes, Vol. I. p. bir, f | 
f Class. of Animals, p. 257. a 
