84 
NATURAL HISTORY. [UPPER FLOOR. 
The Web-footed Birds (Cases 72— 88 ) have their feet 
placed on the hinder part of the body, with short compress¬ 
ed tarsi, and the toes united together by a web ; and their 
plumage is close, shining, and oily : they live chiefly on 
fish, mollusca, and insects. Some have short or moderate 
wings, as the family of Ducks, (Cases 72— 78,) which have 
their bill covered with a soft skin, and its edge serrated. 
The Merganser has a slender, serrated bill; and the Hydro- 
bates the hind toe large, and webbed beneath. The "Swans 
and Geese have beautifully formed, long necks; the Cere- 
opsis has the base of the beak covered by a yellow skin, 
and the Flamingo combines the long legs of the Waders 
with the shining velvet plumage, compressed legs, and ser¬ 
rated bill of the Bucks. 
The Divers (Cases 79 and 80) have very short wings, 
and the legs placed so far back on the body, that they can 
assume an erect position. They live constantly on the sur¬ 
face of the water, and dive for their food. In some, the 
wings are moderately feathered, and the bill is compressed 
at the tip, and smooth, as in the Grebes, which have the 
toes separate, and fringed on the side by a membrane. 
These birds live on lakes, and are said to carry their young 
under their wings when alarmed. The Finfoot has the 
feet of the Grebes, but the tail is longer, and the claws 
sharp ; the Divers have completely webbed feet, and live 
on the sea-coast. Others have the wings very short and 
covered with feathers, but no hind toe, as (same Cases) the 
Guillemots, Penguins, and Puffins; while the Manchots 
have very short wings, covered with small scale-like fea¬ 
thers, and all the toes directed forwards. 
The Birds of the second group have very long wings, 
which enable them to suspend themselves in the air for a 
great length of time, so that it almost appears to be their 
proper sphere, as they are seldom seen on the ground ex¬ 
cept in the breeding season. 
The family of Pelicans (Cases 81 and 82) is at once dis¬ 
tinguished by the hind toes being united to the others by 
a web ; their legs are short; they are excellent swimmers, 
and often perch on trees ; the edge of their beak is gene¬ 
rally toothed, and their throat dilated into a bag, in which 
they keep the fish as they catch them, to feed their young: 
the true Pelican (Case 83) has a broad beak and enormous 
