Order  VIII.  ANSERES. 
Family  II.  Colymbid^E. 
The  third  Subfamily, 
HELIORNINiE,  or  Sun  Grebes, 
have  the  Bill  long,  straight,  and  compressed,  with  the  tip  slightly  curved  and  emarginated ;  the  gonys 
of  the  lower  mandible  short  and  advancing  upwards  ;  the  Wings  moderate  and  rounded  ;  the  Tail  long 
and  much  rounded  ;  the  Tarsi  short ;  and  the  Toes  margined  with  a  membrane,  which  is  more  or  less 
united  to  the  middle  one. 
Heliornis  Bonn.* 
Bill  longer  than  the  head,  straight,  sides  compressed,  with  the  culmen  rather  elevated,  and  gradually 
curved  to  the  tip,  which  is  acute  and  emarginated  ;  the  gonys  of  the  lower  mandible  short,  and  advancing 
upwards ;  the  nostrils  placed  in  a  broad  groove,  with  the  opening  large,  longitudinal,  and  near  the 
middle.  Wings  moderate,  with  the  second  and  third  quills  the  longest.  Tail  long,  broad,  and  much 
rounded,  with  each  feather  broad  and  rounded  at  its  end.  Tarsi  much  shorter  than  the  middle  toe, 
robust,  and  scutellated  in  front.  Toes  long,  the  outer  nearly  as  long  as  the  middle  one,  with  a  broad 
web  on  the  inner  margin  of  all,  which  is  united  to  the  first  joint  of  the  inner  toe,  and  to  the  second  joint 
of  the  outer ;  the  inner  toe  margined  interiorly,  and  united  to  the  lobe  of  the  hind  toe. 
It  is  chiefly  seen  on  the  sides  of  rivers  and  creeks ;  in  such  places  it  searches  for  small  fish  and  insects,  more  especially 
flies,  in  catching  which  it  shows  great  dexterity.  It  is  very  active,  with  the  head  and  body  continually  in  motion,  and 
frequently  expanding  the  tail  and  wings  at  the  same  time. 
H.  Fulica  (Bodil.)  PI.  enl.  893.  —  Plotus  surinamensis  Gmel.  ;  Heliornis  fulicarius  Bonn. 
Podica  Less.f 
Bill  like  that  of  the  last  genus ;  but  the  Wings  moderate,  with  the  third,  fourth,  and  fifth  quills  the 
longest.  Tail  lengthened,  rounded,  and  composed  of  long  narrow  feathers,  with  the  shaft  of  each  strong 
at  the  base.  Tarsi  shorter  than  the  middle  toe,  and  scutellated  in  front.  Toes  long,  and  margined  with 
a  broad  lobed  membrane  ;  the  lateral  ones  unequal ;  the  hind  toe  long,  and  margined  with  a  broad  lobe  ; 
the  claws  short  and  curved. 
The  typical  species  is  peculiar  to  Western  Africa;  its  habits  and  manners  are  unknown. 
P.  seneyahnxis  (Vieill.)  Less.  Gal.  des  Ois.  t.  280. 
*  Established  by  Bormaterre  (Encycl.  Method,  p.  64.)  in  1790  ;  and,  in  1811,  Illiger  altered  it  to  Podoa. 
t  Established  by  M.  Lesson  in  1831  (7V.  d'Orn.  p.  596.)  ;  and  Rliigelura  of  Wagler  (1832)  is  coequal. 
December,  1 84-t. 
