SYSTEMATIC ARRANGEMENT OF THE GENERA OF BIRDS xxi 
104. GALL{inuLA (Moor-hen). Bill shorter than the head, stout, straight, 
compressed ; upper mandible expanding at the base and forming 
a disc on the forehead ; toes entirely divided, bordered by a narrow 
entire membrane, middle toe longer than tarsus. Page 231 
105. Ftxrica (Coot). Bill shorter than the head, straight, robust, convex 
above, much compressed ; upper mandible dilated at the base, 
and forming a naked patch on the forehead; all the toes united 
at the base, and bordered by a scalloped membrane. Page 233 
ORDER ALECTORIDES 
Angle of the mandible always truncated, hind toe generally raised above 
level of others. 
FAMILY GRUID& 
Nasal depression more than half as long as maxilla; rectrices twelve. 
106. Grus (Crane). Upper mandible deeply channelled ; nostrils medial ; 
wings moderate; third primary longest. Page 234 
FAMILY OTIDIDZ 
(BusTArDs) 
Bill flattened and obtuse; no hind toe; tarsi unarmed ; wings very short ; 
rectrices sixteen to twenty. 
107. Otis (Bustard). Legs long, naked above the knee ; wings moderate, 
hind quill longest. Page 236 
ORDER LIMICOLZ 
(WADERS) 
Leg and tarsus long, the lower portion of the former generally destitute 
of feathers; bill long or moderate; toes three or four, more or less con- 
nected by a membrane at the base, sometimes lobated. Primaries eleven; 
fifth secondary wanting; after shaft to contour feathers present. 
Adapted by structure for feeding {in marshes, on the muddy or sandy sea- 
shore, or on the banks of lakes and rivers. Some, which feed on fish, have 
unusually long legs and powerful bills; others, owing to their length of bill 
and legs, are able to search muddy places for worms and insects, without 
clogging their feathers ; and others, again, are decidedly aquatic, and have 
considerable swimming powers, thus approaching the next order; the 
majority have great power of flight, and lay their eggs on the ground. 
FAMILY GLAREOLID# 
108. GLARfOLA (Pratincole). Bill short, convex, compressed towards the 
point ; upper mandible curved throughout half its length; nostrils 
basal, oblique; legs feathered nearly to the knee; tarsus long ; 
three toes in front, one behind, the latter joined on the tarsus ; 
wings very long; first primary longest. Page 238 
FAMILY CHARADRIIDZE 
Hind toe absent in most species; tarsus usually reticulate, sometimes 
scutellate. 
109. CEpicnfmus (Thick-knee). Bill stout, straight, longer than the head, 
