412 
Synopsis of the Birds 
82. HELIORNIS* 
Flotus , Gm. Lath . Grebe-Foulques, Buff. Colymbus , 
Lacepede. Heliornis , Bonaterre . Vieill. Podoa , I//. Temm . 
Ranz. JYob. Jin. Table. 
Bill moderate, straight, cylindric-compressed, subulate, 
somewhat curved and notched at tip, acute ; edges sharp, 
entire ; mandibles equal ; upper slightly furrowed each side 
nearly its whole length, depressed above, margins dilated 
at base ; lower straight, angular beneath : nostrils in the 
furrow, medial, lateral, longitudinal, concave, oblong, cover- 
ed by a membrane, open in the middle, pervious. Head 
small, entirely feathered ; eyes moderate ; neck moderate, 
slender: body elongated. Feet short; tibiae almost 
entirely feathered ; tarsi somewhat rounded : anterior toes 
long, rather slender ; hind toe short, touching the ground at 
lip only ; connecting membrane much indented, very deeply 
scalloped, merely bordering the anterior toes ; hind toe not 
only free, but simple : nails short, compressed, curved, acute. 
Wings moderate, acute, sub-tuberculated ; second and third 
primaries longest. Tail spreading, of twelve feathers. 
Female similar to the male. Young differing somewhat 
from the adult. Moult twice a year, hardly changing the 
colors of their plumage. Plumage very thick, close, and 
downy. Colors brownish. 
Very active. Keep on rivers and creeks, fly well : swim 
and dive admirably : walk very awkwardly, hardly ever rest- 
ing but on their favourite element. Feed on fishes and 
aquatic animals, but especially winged insects, which they 
seize in the air with great dexterity. Breed on the ground 
in marshes, near water. Often expanding their wings and tail. 
* Having ascertained the priority of this name, we make it a duty to 
adopt it in preference to that given by Illiger. 
