File:The genera of birds (18707552713).jpg

Order VIII. ANSERES.
Family III. Alcid^e.
The third Subfamily,
SPHENISCIN.E, or Penguins,
have the Bill more or less long and straight, with the sides compressed and grooved, the culmen
rounded and curved at the tip, which is acute ; the Nostrils placed in the lateral groove, and linear ;
the Wings short, imperfect, being only covered with scale-like plumes ; the Tail more or less short, and
composed of narrow rigid feathers ; the Tarsi very short and depressed ; the Toes moderate and
depressed, with the anterior toes united by a web ; the hind toe very small, and united to the side of the
tarsus.
Spheniscus Briss*
Bill moderate, much compressed, and strong, with the culmen rounded and curved at the tip, which
is acute ; the tip of the lower mandible suddenly truncated, and the gonys moderate and curved upwards ;
the nostrils rather rounded, and placed in the lateral groove near the middle of the bill. Wings
imperfect, and covered with scale-like plumes. Tail very short. Tarsi very short, thick, flattened, and
covered with small scales. Toes long, the lateral ones unequal, and united to the middle toe by a web ;
the hind 'toe very small, and united to the tarsus at the base of the inner toe; the claws long,
compressed, and slightly curved.
These birds are found on the rocks of the islands of the Southern Ocean, and the southern portions of South
America and Africa. They are frequently observed on the floating islands of ice that are scattered in that dreary
ocean. Their habits and manners are similar to 'those given in the next genus.
1. S. demersus (Linn.) Ternm. Edwards's Birds, pi. Q4:, PI. I 3. S. Humboldtii Meyen, Nov. Acta, &c. xvi. t. 21.
enl. 382. 1005., Reg. Anim. (D'Orb.) Ois. t. 90. f. 3. 4. ? S. chikensi.s (Mol.) — Aptenodytes Molina- Lath.
2. S. magellanicus (Forst.) Comment. Goett. iii. t. 5., Forst. Icon,
ined. 83., Descr. Anim. p. 351.
Eudyptes Vieill.-f
Bill more or less long, straight, much compressed, and grooved on the sides, and the culmen rounded
and curved at the tip, which is acute ; the end of the lower mandible truncated, and the gonys moderate

• Established by Brisson in 1760.
  

t Established by Vieillot in 181 6 (Analyse, §c, p. 67.) : but in 1825 he used Brisson's name of Caturractes for the same series of