SUB-OEDER 



GRALLAE. 



Ch. — Feathers of the head and neck extending over the entire cheeks to the bill. Bill, when much longer than head, slender 

 at the base ; sometimes thick and shorter than the head. Young running about and feeding themselves as soon as hatched. 



The preceding cliaracteristics indicate, in a general way, the characteristics of the Grallae as 

 distinguished from the Herodiones. They are usually much smaller hirds, and more especially 

 inhahitants of the open sandy shore. Few or none of the species nest on trees or bushes, the 

 eggs being generally laid in a cavity scooped out in the sand. 



The sub-order is divided by Bonaparte into two tribes, Cursores and Alectorides, (by Burmeister 

 into Limicolae and Fahidicolae,) the first having the hind toe elevated, small, or wanting, the 

 second having it lengthened and inserted on a level with the rest. Additional characters are 

 as follows : 



Limicolae. — Species living on the shore, and generally probing the ground or mud in search 

 of food. Bill and legs generally lengthened and slender. Bill hard at tip, softer and more 

 contracted at base. Anterior toes connected at base more or less by membranes, and with very 

 short claws. Hind toe very short, elevated, or wanting. Wings long, pointed ; outer 

 primaries longest, and reaching to or beyond the tip of tail, which is stiff. 



Paludicolae. — Species living in marshy places among the grass, feeding from the surface of 

 the ground. Bill hard to its base, where it is not contracted. Toes cleft to the base, lengthened, 

 with very long claws. Hind toe lengthened, and on same level with the rest. Wing short, 

 rounded, not reaching the tip of the soft tail ; outer primaries graduated. 



Tribe LIMICOLAE. 



Ch. — Birds living on the shore or in open places, usually small species, with rounded or depressed bodies, and slender bills 

 of variable length, having a more or less distinct horny terminal portion, the remainder covered with soft skin, in which are 

 situated the elongated, narrow, open, and distinct nostrils. The feathers of the head are small, and extend compactly to the 

 base of the bill ; they are similar in character to those of the neck and body. The wings are long, acute, and when folded 

 reaching to or beyond the tip of the tail. The posterior or inner secondaries are generally as long as the outer primaries. The 

 primaries are ten in number ; the three outer longest and about equal. The tail is stiff, short, broad, and rounded or graduated ; 

 the feathers usually twelve, sometimes more. The legs are slender and delicate, but corresponding with the bill in proportions. 

 A lare;e portion of the tibia below is bare of feathers. The covering of tlie legs is parchment-like, not horny, generally divided 

 anteriorly and behind into small half rings, laterally more in hexagons. The claws are delicate, sharp, and gently curved. 

 The hind toe is very small, scarcely touching the ground ; somctuncs wanting. There is usually (except in Calidris, Tringa, &c.) 

 a rather broad basal membrane between the outer and middle toes, sometimes between the inner and middle ; this web 

 occasionally extends toward the ends of the toes. 



In the prececeding diagnosis, borrowed, like that of Paludicolae, from the admirable work of 

 Burmeister, I have given the most prominent characters of this tribe. By Bonaparte it is 

 divided into 1. Otididae; 2. Charadrididae ; 3. Glareolidae ; 4. Thinocoridae ; 5. Haematopo- 

 didae ; G. Ohionididae ; 7. Dromadidae ; 8. Recurvirostridae ; 9. Phalaropodidae ; and 10. 

 Scolopacidae. Of these, however, the Ist, 3d, 4th, 6th, and 7th have no representatives within 

 our limits, leaving the remaining five to be defined as follows : 



