S96 
Synopsis of Birds 
tioned ; body large, hardly compressed. Feet placed far 
back, turned outward, robust ; tibia much drawn up into the 
belly ; tarsus one third shorter than the middle toe, much 
compressed ; outer toe longest ; inner shortest ; webs full, 
entire ; hind toe equal to a phalanx of the middle one, touch- 
ing the ground onty at tip, furnished with a broad membrane : 
nails falculate. Wings moderate, very acute ; quills stiff; 
first and second primaries subequal, longest. Tail short, 
rounded, of from sixteen to twenty feathers. 
Female and young differing greatly from the adult male. 
Moult annually, the adult male in spring, the female and 
young in autumn ? Plumage extremely thick and compact. 
Trachea of the male with two large expansions. 
Wild : untameable. Live on waters. Migrate according 
to season, from cold to temperate countries. Keep in flocks, 
the adult males generally by themselves, leaving the young 
with the females. Extremely voracious : great destroyers of 
fish. Feed almost exclusively on fishes, of which they swal- 
low surprising large ones, also on reptiles and insects. Build 
among grass near fresli water, rarely on bushes, or in hollow 
trees ; nest lined with down ; eggs from eight to fourteen. 
The male keeps near the nest while the female alone incu- 
bates : young led to the ^ater after food as soon as hatched, 
by the mother only, the father showing great unconcern. 
Swim deep in the water, the body submerged, the head only 
out: dive by plunging, very deeply, and keep under water as 
long as they can go without breathing ; reappearing at great 
distances, moving with great speed under the surface. Walk 
very awkwardly, in an erect posture. Fly very well, rapidly, 
and for a long time. Flesh tough, bad tasted. 
Inhabit Arctic regions whence they migrate periodically. 
Formed of but five species, wantonly multiplied : all the 
European, and one besides, found in North America, the other 
is South American. Connects its own F amily with that of the 
Pygopodes, which it resembles closely in habits. 
