Chapter I: ALECTORIDES.12 Tibiæ naked below. Neck, legs, and feet

much as in the last group, but hallux reduced and obviously
elevated, with small claw, the resulting foot cursorial
(natatorial and lobate in _Fulica_). Wings and tail commonly as
in _Herodiones_. Head less narrowed and conic than in the last,
fully feathered or with extensive baldness (not with definite
nakedness of loral and orbital regions). Bill of various shape,
usually lengthened and obtuse, never extensively membranous.
Rictus moderate. Nostrils lower than in _Herodiones_.
Pterylosis not peculiar. Palate schizognathous. Carotids
double. Nature præcocial and ptilopædic. Comprising the Cranes
and Rails and their allies; the former agreeing with the
_Herodiones_ superficially in stature, etc., but highly diverse
in the schizognathous palate, præcocial nature, etc.

J. LAMELLIROSTRES. Feet palmate; tibiæ feathered (except
_Phœnicopterus_). Legs near centre of equilibrium of the body,
its axis horizontal in walking; not lengthened except in
_Phœnicopterus_. Knee-joint rarely exserted beyond general skin
of the body. Wings moderate, reaching when folded to, but not
beyond, the usually short and rounded (exceptionally long and
cuneate) tail. Feet tetradactyle (except sometimes in
_Phœnicopterus_); hallux reduced, elevated and free, often
independently lobate. Bill lamellate, i. e., furnished along
each commissural edge with a regular series of mutually adapted
laminæ or tooth-like processes, with which correspond certain
laciniate processes of the fleshy tongue, which ends in a horny
tip. Bill large, thick, high at base, depressed towards the
end, membranous to the broad obtuse tip, which is occupied by a
horny “nail” of various shape. Nostrils patent, never tubular;
nasal fossæ slight. No gular pouch. Plumage dense, to resist
water. Eyes very small. Head high, compressed, with lengthened,
sloping frontal region. Palate desmognathous. Reproduction
præcocial; young ptilopædic. Eggs numerous. Carotids double.
Sternum single-notched. Comprising Flamingoes and all the
Anserine birds.

K. STEGANOPODES. Feet totipalmate; hallux lengthened, nearly
incumbent, semilateral, completely united with the second toe
by a full web. Tibiæ feathered; position of legs with reference
to axis of body variable, but generally far posterior;
knee-joint not free. Wings and tail variable. Bill of very
variable shape, never lamellate, wholly corneous; its tomia
often serrate; external nares very small or finally abortive. A
prominent naked gular pouch. Tarsi reticulate. Sternum entire
or nearly so; furculum confluent with its keel. Carotids
double. Palate highly desmognathous. Reproduction altricial;
young psilopædic or ptilopædic. Eggs three or fewer.