12 
THE ZOOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT. [UPPER 
the skull and leg-bones, was obtained from a turbary in the Mau- 
ritius, and exemplifies the affinity of the Dodo to the doves. Cast of 
the egg of the iEpyornis maximus, a gigantic bird, at one time a native 
of Madagascar. Cases 110, 111, 112. The Bustards and Coursers, 
quick running birds, inhabitants of the barren parts of Europe, 
Africa, Asia, and Australia, where they feed on grain, herbage, worms, 
and insects. Cases 113, 114. The Plovers, Turnstones, and Oyster- 
catchers ; the last are so named from their opening bivalve shells, with 
their bills, to feed on the contents. Case 114. The Trumpeters of 
South America ; one of these is employed to guard poultry from the at- 
tacks of hawks. Cases 115-117. The Cranes ; found on the borders of 
rivers and marshes, feeding on fish and frogs ; some of them famed 
for the regularity of their migrations ; the fine-crested Egrets, with 
their delicate white plumes ; the Bitterns and Night-Herons ; the 
wide-beaked Boatbill and Spoonbills ; the Demoiselles, so named from 
their graceful and elegant motions. Cases 124, 125. The Storks 
and Ibises; the Ethiopian Ibis, the mummies of which were preserved 
by the ancient Egyptians. Cases 127-129. The Godwits, Sand- 
pipers, and Phalaropes ; the Avocets, with their very long legs, and up- 
turned or recurved bills ; the long-legged Plover, which seems to walk 
on stilts. Case 130. The Snipes, which feed among marshes; the 
Painted Snipes of India. Case 131. The Jacanas, with their long 
toes, enabling them to walk with ease over the floating leaves of water 
plants ; the Screamers of South America, with spines on their 
shoulders, used in killing snakes. Case 132. The Bails. Cases 
133, 134. The Gallinules, which live on the borders of rivers and 
lakes ; one of the most notable, as it is the rarest, is the Notornis 
Mantelli of New Zealand, now nearly extinct. Case 134. The Fin- 
foots of South America and West Africa have curiously lobed feet, and 
dive like the Grebes. 
Cases 135-166. The Web-footed Birds. Case 135. The Fla- 
mingos, the longest-legged birds of the group. Ancient epicures re- 
garded their tongues as a most luxurious dish. Cases 136-139. 
The Geese, such as the Spur-winged Geese, so named from the spurs 
with which the wings are armed; the Geese feed chiefly on grass 
and other herbage. Cases 140-142. The Swans, with their long 
and graceful neck ; the Black Swans of Australia, giving the names to 
one of the districts ; the Black-necked Swan of Chili. Cases 143- 
146. The Ducks : some of these, as the Sea Ducks, have a fin to 
the hind toe ; the spinous-tailed Ducks are found in the warmer parts 
of the world ; the pink-headed is a rare and curious species. Case 
150. The Mergansers, natives of the arctic regions, where they 
feed on fish. Cases 151, 152. The Divers, so named from their 
powers of diving, greatly owing to the backward position of their legs ; 
the Grebes have often curious tufts of feathers about their heads. 
Cases 153, 154. The Auks, oceanic birds, found within the Arctic 
and Antarctic Circles, where they dive after fish and Crustacea, on 
which they feed ; they use their scaled wings as oars : the Great 
Auk {Ale a impennifi) is believed to be now extinct. The skeleton 
