397 



XV. ACUPATORES. STALKERS. 



Stately and sedate birds, as most of those which constitute 

 this order are, they differ as much from the rambling and 

 lively Tentatorial tribes as can well be conceived. Many of 

 them are of a very large size, some quite small, the majority 

 of moderate dimensions. Their body is much compressed, 

 sometimes rather robust, generally light, and often very thin. 

 The head oblong, compressed, flattened above. The bill is 

 large, generally compressed, and conical, but varying con- 

 siderably in form, and sometimes elongated, tapering, sub- 

 cylindrical, or flattened and expanded at the end. 



Their digestive organs, adapted for animal food, and 

 especially for fishes and reptiles, differ from those of the pre- 

 ceding orders : the oesophagus being wide ; the stomach large, 

 roundish, with the muscular coat thin, the epithelium soft ; 

 the intestine very long and narrow ; the cceca wanting or 

 small. 



The legs are usually long and slender ; the tibia bare to 

 a large extent ; the tarsus generally scutellate ; the toes four, 

 the hind toe large, and placed on the same level as the rest. 



The plumage is various, mostly rather loose, with some 

 of the feathers elongated, and having .disunited filaments. 

 The wings large and broad ; the tail short. 



These birds feed on fishes, reptiles, Crustacea, and othei 

 aquatic animals. They frequent the shores of the sea, estu- 

 aries, rivers, and lakes, or reside in marshy places, among the 

 rank herbage. Their flight is light or buoyant, but mostly 

 slow. They walk in a sedate and rather graceful manner, 

 often wade upon the mud and sand, and sometimes stand for 



