322 GEALLATOEES, OE WADING BIEDS. 



times attain the lieiglit of six- and- twenty inches. They possess 

 considerable powers of flight, but walk with difficulty ; on the 

 other hand, they are mnch at home on mud or in marshes 

 and swamps, in which they bore with their long beaks for in- 

 sects, larvsD, and small mollusks — dainties to which they are very 

 partial. 



They are dull, shy birds, leading a solitary life, except at the 

 breeding season. At that period they assemble in great numbers, 

 build their nests in the marshes, on little hillocks, close to one 

 another, grass being the principal material employed. They 

 lay four greenish- coloured eggs, with ash-coloured spots. The 

 male bird watches while the females are sitting ; and at the slightest 

 alarm he raises a cry which, startles the flock. The whole colony 

 may then be seen on the wing, waiting for the danger to pass 

 before settling down. 



Stilt Birds are uncommon in Western Europe ; they are prin- 

 cipally to be met with in the Russian and Hungarian marshes. 

 During the summer they occasionally visit the shores of the 

 Mediterranean, but they are seldom seen on those of the Atlantic. 

 By sportsmen they are little thought of. 



JVIacrodactyles. 



The birds forming the fiimily of Macrodactyles (long-toed) are 

 remarkable for the extreme length of their toes, which are entirely 

 separate, or but slightlj^ webbed ; they are thus enabled to walk 

 on the weeds growing on the surface of the water. In most 

 instances the shortness of their wings limits their powers of 

 flight. 



This order includes the Water Hens {Gallmula), the Taleves, 

 or Sultana Hens, the Rails [Rallus), the Coots {Fulica), the 

 Glareohie, and the Kamichis. 



The chief characteristics of the Watiiir Hen are a short and 

 strong bill, thick at the base and sharp at the end, with a pro- 

 longation of it extending up the forehead ; four well-spread toes, 

 furnished with sharp claws — the three front toes united by a 

 small and cloven membrane. They are plentiful in some parts of 



