SYSTEMATIC ARRANGEMENT OF THE GENERA OF BIRDS xxi 



104. Gallinula (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. FuLiCA (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 OTIDID.E 



(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 LIMICOL^ 



(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 jin 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. GLARfeoLA (Pratincole). BiU 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 CHARADRIID.E 



Hind toe absent in most species ; tarsus usually reticulate, sometimes 

 scutellate. 



109. QiDiCNEMUS (Thick-knee). Bill stout, straight, longer than the head, 



