LARIDA. — GENERA. 197 
ated: we have a native example of this genus in the 
fulmar (P. gilacialis), but nearly all the rest inhabit 
the antarctic regions: they are continually out at sea, 
even in the most violent storms: Cuvier mentions, 
that their French name of Petit Pierre is derived 
from their habit of walking on the water by the help 
of their wings. The shearwater petrel, and some 
others, have been separated under the very objection- 
able name of Puffinus, from the different construction 
of their nostrils, and of the lower mandible: there is 
one species, the English puffin (P. Anglorum Tem.), 
which appears to be confined to the northern coasts of 
Scotland. The genus Thalassidroma Vig. differs from 
the other petrels, by having the legs longer, and the 
bill somewhat shorter: it is composed of those small 
birds well known to sailors by the vulgar name of 
Mother Cary’s chickens. We may here also mention 
the subgenus Pachyptila, as being that form which, of 
all in this family, shows the nearest approach to the 
Anatide, with which we commenced the circle: the 
bill retains the general form of the petrels, but the base 
is considerably dilated, and its inner margins are found 
to be furnished with teeth-like lamine. The most 
aberrant type of the Laride appears to be the genus 
Dromas of Paykull, a long-legged bird, analogous to 
the flamingos: this we have never yet seen, but Tem- 
minck and others consider it has an affinity with the 
terns. The circle of the Laride, no less than that 
of the natatorial order, has now been traced, and we 
ean only regret that our limited space prevents us from 
laying before the reader some of the very many analo- 
gies by which this arrangement may be confirmed. 
(218.) With the following diagram, which con- 
centrates the latest results of my investigation of the 
ornithological circle, I shall now close this part of the 
treatise. There have been times, during its progress, 
when the discovery of what I considered a fresh glimpse 
into the harmony of creation has imparted a confidence 
and a boldness to my style, which many may attribute 
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