190 
ON THE CliASSIHOATION OF BIRDS. 
but we have no room to lay them before the reader. 
Among the Merganida the forms are very few, and 
consequently tlieir circular succession cannot tie traced. 
(211.) The flamingos (Phceniooptina, fig. 1 79.) have 
hitherto been arranged by all writers with the waders ; 
and it must be confessed that their very long legs 
totally unlike the rest of the Anatidw, is much in favour 
of such an arrangement. Xever- 
tlieless this character, however 
important, is not sufficient in it- 
self to outweigh others still more 
so. Although the bill of the fla- 
mingo is bent, and otherwise 
greatly modified from that of a 
duck, it is essentially formed for 
performing the same office ; the 
margins arc divided into laminte, 
which shows that the food is 
taken in the same way ; while 
the feet, however long, have the 
webbed toes of a duck. We con- 
sider this form, in short, as no 
other than the grallatorial type 
of the family of Anatida ; and 
did our space permit, we should 
lay before the ornithologist the 
various tests by which this station may be demonstrated 
natural. It may be noticed, however, that even by 
its scarlet plumage it finds its analogy in the gralla- 
torial family of Tantalidee, and even in Tkhodrotna, 
the corresponding type in the Certhindce ; while a 
curved bill, and long legs, are two of the chief dis- 
tinctions of all grallatorial representatives. As being 
