138 THE STORY OF THE BIRDS. 
probing snipe forms. Some of these have the upper 
prong of the beak so flexible that it can be bent into 
a hook with which to pull the earthworm out. Many 
others of them have beaks that are soft at or near the 
tip to feel with, and all have the nostrils low down 
and grooves along the beak to allow them to smell. 
All feed in water, swamps, or rather damp earth, and 
largely neglect vegetable diet, especially seeds. All 
except woodcocks have their legs naked above the 
joint for wading. In this Plover-snipe group there 
are many peculiar shapes, curves, ete., given the bill 
in keeping with feeding habits. Some are bent down, 
others up, and one sidewise to feed around under 
stones. One is spoon-shaped at the end, and another 
is flat and thin, like a knife, vertically to probe narrow 
erevices. Likewise their feet are modified for simple 
running by the loss or elevation of the rear toe, and 
by the growth of two kinds of swimming membranes. 
Near by their cousins the rails show a stronger 
likeness to the Apteryx in structure, shape, and habit, 
but not in beak. Their feet are simply spread by the 
lengthening of toes (but not webbed) that they may 
walk over scums and slush, but their hind toe is low 
and clasping that they may climb up reeds also. So 
important is this arrangement that a form (the ja- 
canas) that stands between these and the plovers, in 
order to preserve the typical raillike foot and yet get 
much spread, has its claws very greatly elongated, 
that it may walk on floating leaves, lily pads, ete. 
These do not dive as a rule for food. 
But on the other side of the rails are the galli- 
