112 



ZOOLOGY. 



Division III. WATER BIRDS, 



ORDER Vin. 



PINNATIPEDES, 



WATER BIRDS, WITH PINNATED FEET. 



The Birds comprised in this Order, are all furnished with 

 membranous edgings to their feet, they swim and dive well, 

 mostly inhabit either the shores of the sea or salt-water 

 inlets, and feed on fish, and marine animals. The Phala- 

 ropes, generally deposit their eggs amongst shingle, on the 

 beach ; the other two genera mostly build floating nests, 

 which they secure by interweaving a part of some living 

 plant, when composing their nests, which prevents the 

 them being carried away by the current ; the flesh of all the 

 kinds is rank and fishey, and though sometimes eaten, is 

 scarcely a remove from carrion. There are three genera in 

 the order. 



1. Phalaropus. Phalarope. Bill strait, slender ; nostrils 

 minute ; legs very slender ; toes edged with a broad 

 and deeply scallopped membrane, which is serrated at 

 the edges. 



In habits, &c., this nearly resembles the Sand-piper genus ; 

 they are natives of very cold countries, and frequent only the 

 shores of the ocean, their food is marine worms, and insects. 



