GRALLATORES. (EDICNEMUS. 249 



GEFUS CEDICNEMUS, TJBMM. THICK-KNfiE. 



GENERIC CHARACTERS. 



BILL rather longer than the head, strong, strait, depressed 

 at the base ; the tip horny, hard, and compressed ; culmen 

 of the upper mandible prominent, with the tip gently de- 

 flected. Nasal fosse large and wide, covered with a mem- 

 brane like a cere. Under mandible angulated, and ascend- 

 ing towards the point. Gape of the bill extending back- 

 wards as far as the anterior angle of the eye. Nostrils me- 

 dial, longitudinally cleft as far as the horny tip of the bill, 

 open in front, and covered in the back part by the membrane 

 of the fosse. 



Wings of mean length, pointed, having the first quill 

 shorter than the second, which is the longest in the wing. 

 Tail wedge-shaped. 



Legs long, slender, with part of the tibiae naked above 

 the tarsal joint. Tarsi covered with hexagonal scales. Feet 

 three-toed, with all the toes directed forwards. Toes short, 

 united at the base by a membrane, which is continued, and 

 borders each toe. Nails short, slightly curved, with the 

 inner edge of the middle one dilated. 



This interesting genus, established by TEMMINCK for the 

 reception of that species known in Europe, and of several 

 others which late discoveries have produced to us from Af- 

 rica, Asia, and New Holland, stands at the extremity of the 

 present family, and serves to connect it with the Rasorial 

 order, by its evident affinity to the' Bustards, and other ge- 

 nera of the family of Struthionidce. Its intermediate posi- 

 tion|between the Plovers and Bustards is clearly pointed out 

 by the station which earlier systematists have given to the 

 European species (the only one then known), LATHAM hav- 

 ing placed it in the genus Otis, LINNAEUS and others in that 



