63 



Admitting the close affinity of the Charadrii and the Lari, there 

 intervenes between the Charadrii and the Ealli the very interesting 

 gronp of the Parr a or Jacanas, which ^ though Pluvialine in es- 

 sential structure, yet have so many Ealline affinities that it is impos- 

 sible to deny to them a rank equal in value to the whole groups of 

 Charadrii and Ralli. 



The Lai'i are equally well defined, and would require at least four 

 illustrative groups, to show Stercorariida (Skuas), Laridce (Gulls and 

 Terns), and Skimmers [Rhynchopidce) . 



The principal groups of the Charadrii could be easily disposed of : 

 Plovers with their nest, or want of nest, their four pyriform eggs ; and a 

 few groups illustrative of the Snipes, with nests and eggs ; while a 

 separate section must be devoted to the Painted Snipes (Rhynchaa) and 

 other minor forms of interest {Strepsilas and such like) . 



In the vicinity of the La7'i and the Charadrii should be found a little 

 congeries of forms, which, as they cannot rightly be said to belong to 

 either one or other of the two groups named, must be treated as inde- 

 pendent groups, though they are represented by but few individual genera. 

 The group of Pratincoles contains but the genus Glareoia, a Plover- 

 like bird of singular habits and structure, connecting the true Charadrii 

 with the Coursers {Cursorii) , which lead on to the Thick-knees {(Edicnemi), 

 and thence to the Bustards {Otides), and later on to the Cranes {vide 

 infra). Dramas ardeola, the single representative of the Dromades, is 

 in habits a Plover, in many points of structure Larine, but it burrows in 

 the sand and lays a white egg, like that of a Petrel — surely a combination 

 of characters which demand that it shall have a separate rank as the 

 representative of a definite Suborder. 



The Sheathbills {Chionides), too, stand equally alone. Their egg is 

 something like those of a Thick-knee {QLdicnemus) or of an Oystercatcher 

 [Hcematopus] , though diff'ering from both. The chicks show no likeness 

 to the nestlings of those of either a Plover or a Gull, being entirely covered 

 with slaty-grey down, and in structure they are intermediate between 

 the Charadrii and the Lari, possessing also distinctive characters, 

 which render them fit subjects for separation as a Suborder. 



The same may be said of Attagis, which is Larine in some characters, 

 and yet in habits and in other points of structure it is an aberrant kind 

 of Plover, so that the best idea of its position is gained by keeping the 

 genus also as a representative of a distinct group. 



From the great division of the Limicoline birds we can approach the 

 Grues, with their outlying allies. The true Cranes, of whose nesting- 

 habits it might be difficult, but ought not to be impossible, to obtain an 

 illustration, would also require considerable space; Avhile Aramus, which 

 we should treat as an intermediate group, to be termed Arami, would be 

 placed between the Cranes and the Ralli, as representing the most 

 Ralline of the Cranes. 



