PALMIPEDES. 251 
I [Here, at the close of the great series of Ground-Birds, as of the Perchers, may be intro- 
I duced a few brief remarks on the classification of these animals, as warranted by the present 
state of information. The divisions are not all so strongly characterized apart as the four 
I principal groups or orders already speeified ; but chiefly beeause certain genera stand forth 
' fi’om the rest, and will not (so far as we can perceive at present) satisfaetorily range with any 
of the others. Preserving the same form of nomenclature as before adopted, as less objection- 
able than any other that we can devise, the various groups of Ground-birds (as the vast 
: majority of the foregoing extensive series may be appropriately denominated,) fall into six 
principal divisions, which may be designated as follow : — 
!j V. Gemitores {Cooers) — the Pigeons; an order strongly characterized by the whole 
! internal anatomy, and not less so by the outward conformation. It is perfectly distinct from 
ij the contiguous orders, to whieh it is linked by no intrinsically connecting species. 
VI. Rasores (Ground-scratchers) — the Poultry : a group sufficiently cognizable in its 
I totality, but not easy to subdivide in such a manner as to exemplify the relative value of its 
various genera. 
' VII. CuRSORES {Runners) ; or the Brevipennes of Cuvier. 
VIII. Calcatores {Stampers) ; or the Pressirostres and Longirostres of our author, 
comprising the numerous genera with soft and flexile bills, more or less prolonged, the greater 
i number of which lay four eggs, which they dispose crosswise, &c. &c. The name alludes to 
the habit which many of them display, of stamping with the foot, to cause the worms on 
^ whieh they feed to rise. 
II IX. Gradatores {Stalkers) ; or the Cultrirostres of Cuvier. 
Ij X. Latitores {Skulkers) ; or the Macrodactyli. 
I Each of these appears to us to constitute a distinct and natural order, possessing various 
distinguishing characters ; and we suspeet that every genus of Ground- birds will ultimately 
! prove, when its characters have been sufficiently studied, to rank in one or another of them. 
;| As a whole, they form a series, analogous to those of the Perchers and Swimmersi] 
i THE SIXTH ORDER OF BIRDS,— 
THE PALMIPEDES,— 
Have the feet organized for swimming ; that is to say, placed far backwards on the body, with 
' short and compressed tarsi, and webbed toes. They are further characterized by a elose and 
, polished plumage, impregnated with oil, and by a quantity of down next to the skin, which pro- 
i tect them from the water in whieh they pass most of their lives. They are the only birds in 
whieh the neck is longer than the legs, whieh is sometimes the case to a considerable extent, 
for the purpose of enabling them to search for food in the depths below, while they swim on 
i the surface. Their sternum is very long, affording a complete guard to the greater portion of 
their viscera, and having on each side [generally] but one emargination, or oval foramen, 
I filled up with membrane. They have most frequently a muscular gizzard, long cceca, and a 
! simple inferior larynx ; which last is in one family, however, inflated into a cartilaginous cap- 
j sule. [So many exceptions oceur to the foregoing generalization respecting the stomach and 
coeca, that it might advantageously have been omitted.] 
This order subdivides tolerably w^ell into four families, of which that of 
The Divers {Brachypteres ) — 
Presents, in certain of its species, some [very superficial] tokens of relationship with the Galli- 
I nules. The position of their legs, whieh is farther backward than in any other birds, renders 
* walking difficult, and obliges them to maintain, when upon land, an upright attitude. As the 
