2 GRALLATORES. GRUID^. 



those considered most typical in the centre, in accordance 

 with the views of Mr VIGOHS), are the Gruidce, Ardeadce, 

 Scolopacida, Rallid^ and Charadriada, of which the Ardea- 

 da and Scolopatida are the typical or normal groups, as 

 partaking most equally of the advantages of both elements. 

 Of the other three or aberrant Divisions, the Gruida and 

 Charadriadez, placed at the extremes of the Order, are more 

 attached to the land in their habits, and serve not only to 

 connect this with the preceding Order of Rasores or Galli- 

 naceous Birds, but to support that succession of affinities 

 which prevails within the circle of the order itself ; while the 

 third,, or Rattida, deviating in form from the other groups, 

 and exhibiting in many respects a close approach to birds 

 more decidedly aquatic, serves as a connecting link between 

 the present order, and the succeeding one of Natatores. 



FAMILY I. GRUID^E. 



Many of the birds of this family were formerly comprised 

 in the genus Ardea of LINNAEUS, but they differ from the re- 

 mainder of that group not only in the form of the bill and 

 feet (the first of which is thicker and more obtuse at the end, 

 and the latter usually much shorter than in the true Ardece), 

 but a marked and considerable difference exists in their ha- 

 bits and manners, which are nearer allied to those of the 

 land birds, and their food, instead of being entirely animal, 

 and derived from the water, is in a great measure vegetable. 

 ' Their plumage and general carriage also indicate a near al- 

 liance with some of the StrntMonidce of the preceding order, 

 through which the chain of affinities connecting the present 

 order with the more typical gallinaceous birds, is supported. 

 In addition to the recently instituted genera Anthropoides, 

 the type of which is the Numidjan Crane (Ardea Virgo of 

 LINN.) ; Balearica, represented by the Crowned Crane 

 (Ardea Pavonina of LINN.) ; and Grus> of which the Ardea 



