332 



COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY. 



The legs are long or strong, and the knee is free from the 



body. The hind 

 toe, when present, 

 is small and ele- 

 vated. 



5. Grallatores, or 

 Waders. These 

 are readily distin- 

 guished by their 

 long and bare legs. 

 Generally, also, the 

 toes, neck, and bill 

 are of proportion- 

 ate length, and the 

 tail short. They 

 feed on small ani- 

 mals, and, with a 

 few exceptions, f re- 

 in flying, their legs are 



stretched out behind, while in most other Birds they are 



folded under the body. 



Such are the Rails, 



Cranes, Herons, Storks, 



Ibises, Stilts, Snipes, 



Sandpipers, and Plov- 

 ers. 

 6. jKasores, or Scratch- 



ers. As a rule, this 



order, so valuable to 



Man, is characterized 



by a short, arched bill ; 



short and concave 



wings, unfitted for pro- 

 tracted flight; stout 



legs, of medium length; and four toes, the three in front 



PIG. 313. Heron (Ardea). 



quent the banks of rivers. 



FIG. 314. Rail, or Marsh Heu (Rallus elegant). 

 United States. 



