all 
470 ORNITHOLOGY AND OOLOGY. 
word bee-bee. On their arrival from the North, they are 
very fat, plump, and well flavored, and included, like the 
preceding and the Marbled Godwit, under the general name 
of Doe-birds: they are sought out by epicures, and enhance 
the value of a table entertainment.” They frequent the 
marshes and adjoining pastures, where they feed much upon 
grasshoppers and other insects and earthworms, which they 
collect principally towards evening, or early in the morning. 
Tribe PALUDICOL&.! 
Species living in marshes, with elevated bodies, much compressed laterally; 
usually with longer necks than most Snipe, with moderately long, strong, and stout 
bills, also much compressed, and covered at tip by a horny investment; the remaining 
portion membranous, with elongated nasal furrow, and narrow, more or less perfor- 
ate, nostrils; the lores are feathered uniformly as in the Limicole; the rest of the 
plumage without the spotting of the Snipes; wings rather short, more rounded than 
pointed, and when folded do not reach beyond the short, soft, and feeble tail, in 
fact, seldom to its base; the outer two or three primaries generally abbreviated; the 
toes are very long, cleft to the base, thin, and generally with very long claws; 
the same is the case with the hind toe, which is not only much longer than in the 
Limicole, but is generally inserted more nearly on the same level with the anterior 
ones, touching the ground for most of its extent. 
The species pick up their food on the surface, and do not probe the soft mud in 
search of it. ; 
The North-American species of this tribe are few in number, though very abun- 
dant in individuals. Their habit of close concealment among the reeds and grass 
of marshy places renders them very difficult of detection, except when their abodes 
are more or less submerged. 
Sub-Family Ratuinz.— The Rails. 
RALLUS, Linnzvs. 
Rallus, LiInnxvs, Syst. Nat. 
Bill longer than the head, rather slender, compressed; upper mandible slightly 
curved; nostrils in a long groove, and with a large membrane; wings short; tertiary 
quills long, frequently longer than the primaries; tail very short; legs moderate; 
tarsus shorter than the middle toe, and covered on all sides with transverse scales; 
toes long and rather slender; inner toe rather shorter than the outer; hind toe short 
and weak. 
1 See Introduction. 
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