398 
Synopsis of the Birds 
Male white, varied with black ; crown white. 
Female cinereous, beneath white ; crown reddish-brown^ 
Smew, or White Nun , Mergus albellus } Wils . Am. Oru 
mii. p. 126 . pi. 71 . fig. 4 . male. 
Inhabits the north of both continents : very rare in the 
middle states : common in the northern, and in most parts of 
Europe. 
FAMILY XXYI. STEGANOPODES, 
Steganopodes , Lobipedes , III. Finnipedes , Dumeril. To- 
tipalmes, Cuv. Syndactyli, Urinatores, Vieill. Pelecanidi, 
Goldfuss . Pelecani , Oken , Boie. Cryptorini , Blainville . 
Unodactyli, Latr. Steganopodi , Podoa , Ranz. Pelecanidce, 
Rallidce , Vigors. Steganopodes, Lobipedes, JVob. View of 
the Families. (23.) 
Bill longer than the head : nostrils linear, often incon- 
spicuous : tongue very short. Skin of the throat generally 
naked, dilatable. Feet nearly central, short, robust, 4-toed ; 
tibia half, or entirely feathered ; (in one genus tarsus also 
half feathered ;) a great portion of the tibia drawn up into 
the belly ; toes long, all four connected by a broad mem- 
brane, in one genus only, deeply scalloped ; hind toe articu- 
lated with the tarsus internally, almost on a level with the 
others, directed forward : nails robust, curved, acute. Wings 
long ; one of the first two primaries longest. Tail of twelve* 
fourteen, or twenty feathers. 
Female smaller, similar to the male. Young differing 
greatly from the adult, and changing repeatedly. Moult once 
or twice in the year, scarcely changing the colors of their 
plumage. 
Walk awkwardly. Rest on the branches of trees, which* 
as well as other objects, they are capable of grasping, though 
they may be styled web-footed by eminence. Dive with 
great agility, several also under water : the long-winged 
