ORDER V.— GRALLATORES. 397 
ORDER V.—GRALLATORES. Waovers. 
Legs, neck, and usually the bill, much lengthened; tibia bare 
- for a certain distance above the tarsal joint; nostrils exposed; tail 
usually very short; the species live along or near the water, more 
rarely in dry plains, wading, never swimming habitually, except 
perhaps in the case of the Phalaropes. 
The bill of the Grallatores is usually in direct proportion to the 
length of legs and neck. The toes vary, but are usually connected 
at the base by a membrane, which sometimes extends almost or 
quite to the claws. 
The Grallatores, like the Rasores and Natatores, are divisible 
into two sub-orders, according as the species rear and feed their 
young in nests, or allow them to shift for themselves. The follow- 
ing diagnoses express the general character of these subdivisions : 
Heropionrs.— Face or lores more or less naked, or else 
covered with feathers different from those on the ‘rest of the 
_ body, except in some Gruide ; bill nearly as thick at the base as 
the skull; hind toe generally nearly on same level with the ante- 
rior; young reared in nests, and requiring to be fed by the parent. 
Grati«x.— Lores with feathers similar to those on the rest of 
the body; bill contracted at base, where it is usually smaller than 
the skull; hind toe generally elevated; young running about at 
birth, and able to feed themselves. 
