66 AVES. 



66. CALIDRIS. Bill moderate, straight, slender 

 and flexible throughout, compressed at the base, depressed 

 and dilated towards the tip : nasal groove extending nearly 

 the whole length ; nostrils lateral, linear : tarsi moderate, 

 slender : toes three, divided nearly to their origin : wings 

 moderate ; first quill longest. 



67. ELEMATOPUS Bill long, robust, straight, 



compressed, the tip cuneated : nostrils lateral, nearly basal, 

 oblong-linear, placed in a groove : tarsi moderate, robust : 

 toes three; the outer and middle ones connected as far 

 as the first joint ; all the toes bordered by a narrow mem- 

 brane : wings long ; first quill longest. 



II. GRUIDjE. Bill strong, moderate or elongated: 

 legs long : toes four in number ; the outer and 

 middle ones united at the base by a small mem- 

 brane; kind toe short, elevated on the tarsus. 



68. GRUS. Bill a little longer than the head, straight, 

 compressed, deeply channelled at the base of the upper 

 mandible on each side, the tip forming a lengthened cone : 

 nostrils medial, placed in the lateral groove, closed behind 

 by a membrane : head generally more or less naked : a 

 considerable part of the tibia naked : wings moderate ; 

 third quill longest. 



III. ARDEID^,. Bill strong, elongated: legs 

 long : feet with four toes ; anterior ones more 

 or less united at the base ; hind toe long, rest- 

 ing on the ground. 



69. ARDEA Bill as long as, or a little longer 



than the head, strong, straight or very slightly inclined, 

 thick at the base, gradually tapering towards the tip ; 

 upper mandible channelled for about two-thirds of its 

 length : nostrils nearly basal, placed in the groove, and 

 partly closed by a membrane : orbits and lore naked : 



