GRALLATORESL 197 



FAMILY V. CHARADRIAD^E. 



THIS subdivision, constituting the fifth family of the Or- 

 der, completes the circle ; and, by its alliance with certain 

 members of the Gruidce (with which that circle commenced), 

 a regular series of affinities is maintained through the differ- 

 ent families of the Gr dilator es. It also comes into close con- 

 tact with the Struthiomdce of the Rasorial Order, by the 

 affinity subsisting between certain species of the genus Otis 

 of that family, and the genera Cursorius, (Edicnemus, &c. of 

 the present one. The passage from the preceding family of 

 the RallidcB seems to be effected by the genus Hamatopus, 

 which retains to a certain extent the habits and power of 

 swimming possessed by the more aquatic groups of that fa- 

 mily ; and which also exhibits rudiments of the lobated mem- 

 brane that borders the toes of the genus Fulica. With the 

 Scolopacidce the connexion is supported by the genus Are- 

 naria (Sanderling), which, with the three- toed feet of Cha- 

 radrius, has a bill nearly corresponding in structure with 

 that of the Tringas. An approach to that family, in the 

 form of the feet, is also shewn by the genera Strepsilas, Va- 

 nellus, and Squatarola^ which alone of the Charadriadce are 

 furnished with a hind toe, or the rudiments of one. On this 

 account the above genera have frequently been arranged with 

 or near to the Tringas; but the structure of the bill, and 

 other anatomical details, as well as their habits, demonstrate 

 a much closer alliance to the typical members of the family 

 in which they are now placed, and point out this deviation 

 in the form of the foot, as one of those beautiful gradations 

 that compose the great chain of affinity by which the various 

 orders and families are held together. 



The habits of the Charadriadce vary according to the re- 

 lative situation they hold with the other groups ; the typical 



