GRALLATORI^. 363 



ORDER V. 



GRALLATORI^. GRALLiE, Lin. 



The birds of this order derive their name from their habits, 

 and from the conformation which causes them. They are 

 known by the nudity of the lower part of their legs, and most 

 generally by the height of their tarsi ; two circumstances which 

 enable them to enter the water to a certain depth without 

 wetting their feathers ; to wade through it and seize iish by 

 means of their neck and bill, the length of which is usually 

 proportioned to that of the legs. Those which are furnished 

 with a strong bill, feed on fish and reptiles ; v/hile such as have 

 a weak one, consume worms and insects. x\ very few feed par- 

 tially on grain, and they alone live at a distance from rivers, &c. 

 The external toe is most commonly united at its base with that 

 of the middle one, by means of a short membrane ; sometimes 

 there are two similar membranes, and at others they are en- 

 tirely wanting, and the toes are completely separated; it 

 sometimes also happens, though rarely, that they are border- 

 ed all along,, or palmated to the very end; in fine, the thumb 

 is deficient in several genera ; circumstances, all of which have 

 an influence on their mode of life, which is more or less 

 aquatic. Almost all these birds, the Ostriches and Cassowaries 

 excepted, have long wings, and fly well ; during which action 

 they extend their legs backwards, dififering in this from all 

 others, which fold them under the belly. 



In this order we establish five principal families, and some 

 insulated genera. 



FAMILY I. 



BREVIPENNES. , 



These birds, although siih'Jlar in general to the other Gral- 

 latorise, differ from them greatly in one point the shortness 

 of the wings, which renders flight impossible. The beak 



