TENTATOKES. PROBERS. 59 



and Totaninse; but tbe toes broadly bordered, or lobate. 

 Tbe habits more aquatic.) 



3. Totani>\e. The head small, compressed, rounded in 

 front ; the bill very long, straight, mostly in some degree 

 recurvate, very slender, compressed, or toward the end de- 

 pressed, the tips acute ; eyes rather large ; feet very long 

 and slender ; toes four, the hind toe very small and elevated, 

 or three only, slender, of moderate length, webbed at the 

 base ; wings very long, pointed, some of the inner secondaries 

 elongated and tapering; tail short, rounded, of twelve 

 feathers. 



4. Scolopacin.e. The head rather small, much com- 

 pressed, rounded above ; the bill very long, straight, slender, 

 compressed until toward the end, when it becomes more or 

 less enlarged ; eyes rather large ; tarsi short ; toes four, the 

 first very small and elevated, the anterior long, slender ; 

 wings long or moderate, rather broad, but pointed ; the inner 

 secondaries generally much elongated, sometimes moderate 

 and rounded ; tail short, of from twelve to twenty-four 

 feathers. 



Among the most remarkable traits in the character of 

 the Grallatorial tribes is the manner in which they protect 

 their nests and young from predacious animals, of which man 

 is probably the most mischievous. Although the employ- 

 ment of stratagem or dissimulation is neither peculiar to 

 them, it being equally exhibited by many of the Rasorial 

 species, nor yet general, it being little observable in the 

 Aucupatorial or Latitorial tribes, it is more obvious to the 

 observer and carried to greater perfection in the Tentatorial 

 Order than in any other. But, to form a correct idea of it, 

 we ought to take a general view of the means employed by 

 birds in defending their progeny. We may confine ourselves 

 to the British species, they being sufficiently numerous to 

 furnish facts capable of leading to correct notions on this 

 interesting subject. 



Now, on examining the habits of the Raptorial Birds, we 

 find that they never employ stratagem in defending their 



