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ORDER V. ANSERES. 
Jlnseres, L. Gm. Pinnatipedes , Palmipedes , Lath . Temm. 
Grallatores, Natatores , III. Vigors. Palmipedes, Cuv . 
JYatatores, Vieill. Ranz . Xa/r. 
Rill generally short, or moderate. Feet placed more or 
less back, short, covered by a tender coriaceous skin ; tibiae 
but partially fleshy, naked for a small space, (genera Phala- 
crocorax, Tachypetes, Aptenodytes excepted,) tarsi much 
shorter than the neck, compressed, naked, (half feathered 
before in Tachypetes only,) reticulated ; toes four, or three, 
palmated or lobated, disposed 3—1, 3—0, 4 — 0 ; hind toe 
when present, articulated internally : nails short, in no degree 
retractile. Body boat-shaped. Tail of from twelve to 
twenty feathers, or wanting. 
Female smaller. Young differing greatly from the adult. 
Moult generally twice a year. Plumage thick and close, 
abundantly furnished with down, oily, impermeable : rump 
having a glandulous apparatus, whence the oil spreads. 
Aquatic. Live near water, preferring salt ; admirable 
swimmers. Feed on fishes, insects, mollusca, some on vege- 
tables, diving for their submerged food. Monogamous, 
though in breeding and rearing various. Nest generally on 
the ground, often in the cavities of rocks, and even on trees. 
Divided into five Families, very natural both as to form 
and habits. 
FAMILY XXIV. LONGIPENNES. 
Longipennes, Cuv. Lair. Longipennes, Tuhinares , V agi- 
nati, 111. Pelagii , Siphorini, Coleoramphi, Vieill. Pelagii, 
Siforinii , Chionis , Ranz. Idrochelidones, Goldfuss. Laridce, 
Rallidce. Vigors. 
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