508 



XVI. LATITOEES. SKULKERS. 



The birds of which this order is composed approximate 

 in some respects to certain species of the Easorial type. 

 The Crakes, for example, are not very unlike some Quails 

 and Partridges ; and the Water-hens, both in form and in 

 some of their habits, bear an obvious resemblance to the 

 female of the domestic fowl. Some, however, having an 

 elongated bill, which suggests an affinity to the Snipes, 

 might be considered as approximating the group to the 

 Tentatores. It is difficult, in fact, to determine their natural 

 j>osition, and, without pretending to have apprehended their 

 relations, I have thought it expedient to place them here, at 

 the end of the wading and at the commencement of the 

 swimming birds. They who consider families as forming 

 circular series, may be pleased with an arrangement which 

 places them in relation to the Cursores, some of which are 

 almost Rasorial. But, however this may be, they all agree 

 in having the body much compressed, the neck of moderate 

 length, the head small, oblong, and much compressed. 



The bill varies from short to long, from stout to slender ; 

 is more or less tapering, with rather large nasal sinuses, 

 and hard, thin-edged tips. The mouth is narrow ; the 

 oesophagus without crop ; the proventriculus thick ; the sto- 

 mach a very muscular gizzard; the intestine of moderate 

 length and width ; the cceca rather large. 



The nostrils are generally small, as are the eyes, and the 

 aperture of the ears. The feet generally very large ; the toes 

 four, the first small, the anterior very elongated, compressed, 

 slender, scutellate, sometimes margined, or even lobed ; the 

 claws slender, long, tapering, little arched. 



