LONG-LEGGED BIRDS. 143 



the species of birds most frequent in any country 

 change with its other changes, whether natural or 

 artificial. 



ECHASSIERS. 



Cuvier's fifth order, which is a very numerous one, 

 and includes birds very varied in their appearances 

 and habits, is that to which he gives the name of 

 ECHASSIERS, or, " stilt birds," birds, generally speak- 

 ing, with long legs, all capable of walking, and many 

 of them fleet in that 'motion, but varying much in 

 their powers of flight, and also in the shape of their 

 bills, according to the nature of their food, and the 

 places in which they seek it. They are otherwise 

 styled Oiseaux de rivage, birds of the water's edge, 

 bank birds, shore birds, gralto or waders, and gralla- 

 lores, or grallidce, birds resembling wading birds. 

 They are also sometimes divided into two orders or 

 sub-orders, Cursores or runners, and Grallidce or 

 waders. But no name, whether founded on one 

 haunt, habit, or peculiarity of structure, as all of those 

 are, will suit the whole, neither can any general defi- 

 nition or description be so framed as to be explana- 

 tory of the whole. 



There are few or none of the orders already men- 



