97 
toes united together by a web ; and their plumage is ROOM XIII. 
close, shining, and oily: they live chiefly on fish, mol- Nat. Hist. 
lusca, and insects. Some have short or moderate wings, 
as the family of Ducks (Cases 72—77), 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 Cereopsis 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, com¬ 
pressed legs, and serrated bill of the Ducks. 
The Divers (Case 78) have very short wings, and the 
legs placed so far back on the body, that they can as¬ 
sume an erect position. They live constantly on the 
surface of the water, and dive for their food. In some 
the wings are moderately feathered, and the bill is com¬ 
pressed at the tip, and smooth, as in the Grebes, which 
have the toes separate, and fringed on the side by a 
membrane. They live in 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 com¬ 
pletely webbed feet, and live on the sea-coast. Others 
have the wings very short and covered with feathers, 
and no hind toe, as (Cases 79 and 80) the Guillemots, 
Penguins, and Puffins, while the Manchots have very 
short wings, covered with small scale-like feathers, 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 except in the breeding season. 
The family of Pelicans (Cases 81 and 82), is at once 
distinguished 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 generally toothed, and their throat dilated into 
a bag, 
ii 
