Aves—Birds.
Warm-blooded, vertebrated, biped animals. Pectoral limbs, fore-arms or wings organised for flight; feathery integument; red blood; respiration and circulation double; lungs fixed and perforated.
I. Natatores, or Palmipedes.
Swimming birds, having the toes united by a membrane; legs placed behind the equilibrium; the body covered with a thick coat of down beneath the feathers. They include the following orders and families:—
I. Brevipennes, Ostriches, Cassowaries, the Penguins, Auks, Guillemots, and Grebes.
II. Longipennes, including the Terns, Gulls, Mews, Petrel, and Albatross.
III. Totipalmates, the Pelicans, Gannets, Cormorants, Frigate Bird, Tropic Bird.
IV. Lamellirostres, the Ducks, Geese, Swans, Flamingos.
II. Grallatores.
Wading birds, having the legs long and naked from the tibia downwards.
I. Macrodactyli, Crakes, Coots, Rails, Screamers.
II. Cultrirostres, Boatbills, Cranes, Herons, Ibis, Storks, Spoonbills.
III. Longirostres, Avocets, Snipes, Ruffs, Turnstones, Sandpipers, Godwit, Curlews, Gambets.
IV. Pressirostres, Oyster Catchers, Thicknee Plovers, Lapwings, Bustards, Coursers.
III. Rasores.
Scratching birds. Feet with strong, obtuse, scratching claws; mandible vaulted; nostrils pierced at the base, covered by a cartilaginous scale.