350 
Synopsis of the Birds 
Bill rather longer than the head, hard, straight, or only 
Curved at the point, compressed, rarely cylindrical, acute } 
margins entire, sharp ; lower mandible more or less navicu- 
lar, ascending at tip : tongue short, fleshy. Head and neck 
moderate. Feet almost central; tibia free, not drawn up 
into the belly, anterior toes moderate, connected by a mem- 
brane, sometimes entire, sometimes indented ; hind toe small, 
free, simple, raised from the ground, touching it only at tip, 
or wanting : nails curved, acute. Wings very long, acute • 
two first primaries longest. Tail rather long, of twelve 
feathers. 
Female hardly smaller, similar in color to the male. 
Young differing much from the adult, and changing gradual- 
ly with age. 
Aerial : excel in flight. Fly constantly on or about waters, 
in which all can swim, but the greater part merely sit motion- 
less, resting occasionally on the beach, or on bare poles, never 
on trees. Unite in flocks, and undertake periodical journies ; 
decoyed in great numbers around a wounded bird of their 
kind, or any thing resembling it. Somewhat rapacious: food 
exclusively animal, fishes, mollusca, eggs, and young water- 
birds ; seldom attacking living animals out of their favourite 
element. Lay without much preparation in the clefts of 
rocks, among the grass, or on sandy beaches, in holes dug 
with their feet : eggs from one to four, generally two : sit 
only during night and stormy weather ; both sexes incubate 
and feed the young ; young only leave the nest when full- 
fledged. Voice harsh, screaming. Flesh tough, bad tasted. 
Intermediate between the waders, and the diving aquatic birds. 
A. 
Bill of one piece. Nostrils immarginate. Feet 4-toed. 
Longipennes , III. Pelagii , Vieill. Ranz. Lari, Qken . 
Lari , Sternce, Boie. 
