CURSORES : OTIDJE. 243 



Archipelago, is about five feet high, and the .head sur- 

 mounted by a horny crest. The wings have some stems 

 without barbs, which seem to serve as weapons of de- 

 fence. 



The Emeu or New Holland Cassowary, C. novce hol- 

 landia, Lath., of Australia, is five to seven feet high. 



The Genus Apteryx comprises New Zealand species, 

 which, in addition to their rudimentary wings, are dis- 

 tinguished by their elongated, slender bill, which bears 

 the nostrils at the tip of the upper mandible. 



OTID.E, OR BUSTARD FAMILY. This Family comprises 

 birds which have the massive carriage of the Gallinae, 

 the long neck and legs of the Ostriches, while in the 

 absence of a thumb the smaller species especially ap- 

 proximate the Plovers ; and their wings are short not 

 rudimentary >- and seldom used except to assist in run- 

 ning. They belong to the Eastern hemisphere. Otis is 

 the only genus. 



The Great Bustard, O. tarda, Linn., is the largest bird 

 of Europe, the male attaining the length of four feet, 

 and the weight of thirty pounds or more. 



SUB-SECTION VI. 



THE ORDER OF GRALLATORES, OR WADERS. 



THE Order of Grallatores comprises birds which have 

 the bill, neck, and legs very long, tail short, and the legs 

 bare for some distance above the tarsal joint. They live 

 near the water, upon shores or marshes, or more rarely 

 upon dry plains. The Grallatores may be divided into 

 two Sub-Orders, Herodiones and Grallae. 



The Sub-Order of Herodiones comprises those which 

 have the bill thick at the base, much longer than the 

 head, the face more or less naked, and the hind toe gen- 

 erally lengthened and nearly on the same level with the 



