GRALLATORLE. 151 



parallel to its edges. The nostrils are oval, and situated at a short distance 

 from the origin of each groove. The expansion of their bill deprives it of 

 all its strength, and renders it fit for nothing but turning up mud, or capturing 

 small fish or aquatic insects. 



FAMILY IV. 



LONGIROSTRES. 



THE family is composed of a multitude of Waders. Their general character 

 is a long, slender, and feeble bill, the use of which is restricted to searching in 

 the mud for worms and insects ; the different gradations in the form of this 

 bill serve to divide them into genera and subgenera. 



According to his own principles, Linnseus should have united most of these 

 birds in the great genus 



SCOLOPAX, Linnaeus, 



Which we divide as follows, according to the variation in the form of the 



bill. The 



IBIS, Cuvier, 



Separated from the Tantalvs of Gmelin, because the bill, though arcuated 

 like that of the Tantalus, is much more feeble, and has no 

 emargination near its point; the nostrils also, perforated 

 near the back of its base, are severally prolonged in a groove 

 which extends to the end. 



Ibis religiosa, Cuv. (The Sacred Ibis.) Is the most cele- 

 brated species. It was reared in the temples of ancient 

 Egypt, with a degree of respect bordering on adoration ; and, 

 when dead, it was embalmed. This, according to some, arose 

 from its devouring serpents, which otherwise might have 

 infested the country ; others again are of opinion that it took its origin from 

 some relation between its plumage and one of the phases of the moon ; while 

 a third class of authors attribute it to the fact that its appearance announced 

 the overflow of the Nile. Found throughout Africa. 



Ib. rubra. (The Red Ibis.) A bird found in all the hot parts of America, 

 remarkable for its bright red colour ; the tips of the wing-quills are black. 



NUMENIUS, Cuvier. 



The Curlews have the beak arcuated like that of the Ibis, but it is more 

 slender, and round throughout : the tip of the upper mandible extends beyond 

 the end of the lower one, and projects a little downwards in front of it. The 

 toes are palmated at base. 



SCOLOPAX, Cuvier. 



The Snipes have a straight beak, the nasal furrows extending to near its 

 point, which is a little inflated externally to reach beyond the lower mandible, 



