MARSH BIRDS 



(Order Paludicolce) 



Birds of the plains and marshes, the two families comprising 

 this order have certain resemblances of structure that unite them 

 into a distinct order, however the large cranes, with their long 

 necks and legs, seem to approach more nearly the herons and 

 their allies than they do the small rails, or marsh hens, and their 

 congeners. Cranes, rails, gallinules, and coots, unlike the altricial 

 heron tribe, are precocial ; that is, they run at once from the nest, 

 well clothed with down when hatched. These birds have four 

 toes, the three front ones long, to enable the birds to run lightly 

 over the oozy ground; the hallux, or great toe, may be elevated 

 at the back, or, as in the case of gallinules and coots, on the level 

 with the front ones, which in several species are lobate, but not 

 flattened also, or palmate, as the grebes' toes are. Five large, 

 strong muscles give the thighs of birds of this order special 

 prominence, and influence the scientific classification. Shy, suspi- 

 cious skulkers, more fleet of foot than of wing, these birds escape 

 danger by running and hiding rather than by flying. 



Cranes 



(Family Gruidce) 



The cranes, as a family, are birds of largest size, seventeen 

 vertebrae being the usual number in their long necks, and their 

 stilt-like legs elevate their compactly feathered bodies to a con- 

 spicuous height. Usually the head is partly bare, or covered 

 with hairlike feathers. Bill is long, straight, slender, and strong. 

 Plumage either white or gray. Solitary wanderers over the 



171 



