that connect the Orders and Families of Birds. 49-5 



a hind toe ; but that member is at the same time so small and 

 feeble, as scarcely to form more than the rudiments of a toe : 

 and in the structure of their bill, and more particularly in their 

 habits, they evince a more natural union with the present family 

 than with Tringa, where a strict adherence to the structure of the 

 foot would place them. The genus Cursorius, Lath, also appears 

 to come among these groups which are joined by the true Chu- 

 radrius, Auct. Among the numerous species of this latter genus, 

 some will be observed to be distinguished from the rest by the 

 greater elevation of the tarsi. 'J'hese lead us to the genus lU- 

 mantopiis, Briss., which exhibits such a singular and apparently 

 disproportioned length of limb. The family is terminated by the 

 CEdicnemits of M. Cuvier, which, by its affinity with the earlier 

 groups of the Gruidce, connects the present family with that which 

 commenced the order. We may remember that the family of 

 Strulhionida among the Rasores is closely allied to the Gruidce 

 of the order before us, and equally so to the Charadriadce, in con- 

 sequence of the absence of the hinder toe. With the latter in- 

 deed it is frequently united into one group, from their simila- 

 rity in this character, and the cursorial habits resulting from it, 

 which are common to both. These three naturally allied families 

 therefore are thus brought into contact, and their mutual affini- 

 ties preserved ; while at the same time they retain in the system 

 the various stations into which the difference in their more im- 

 portant characters tends to separate them. 



Ord. V. NATATORES. 



The groups of the preceding order, that deviate from the ty- 

 pical character by their habits of swimming, naturally lead us, 

 as I have so often repeated, to the fifth or lastorderof Aa/o/o/e*. 



I'he 



