Order 5. GRALL^. 225 



That of Europe (H. ostralegns, Lin.) is commonly termed Sea-pie, from its black and white plumage; the belly, 

 throat, and base of the wings and tail, being of the latter colour; beak and feet bright orange-red. [There are 

 several more.] 



We shall place near the Plovers and Oyster-catchers 



The Coursers (Cursorius, Lacepede ; Tachydromus, Illiger), — 



The beak of which, more slender, but equally conical, is arcuated, without any groove, and moderately 



cleft ; the wings are shorter, and the legs more elevated, and terminated by three toes, without any 



thumb or palmature. [They approximate the Bustards in appearance and habits, and have a similar 



large membranous stomach ; but do not change colour with the seasons, and are very much smaller : 



are pecuUar also to the eastern hemisphere]. 



One has been met with, but very rarely, in France and England, which is indigenous to the north of Africa, the 

 Cream-coloured Courser (C. uabellinus, Meyer), of a pale fulvous colour above, white beneath, [the young trans- 

 versely rayed above with narrow dusky lines. There are several others.] 



As far as can be judged from the exterior, it is here that we should also place 



The Cariama {Microdactylus, Geoff. ; Dicholophvs, Illiger) — 

 Which has a longer beak, more curved, and cleft as far as the eye, which imparts somewhat of the 

 physiognomy and disposition of the Birds of Prey, approaching also a little to the Herons. The legs, 

 scutellated and very long, terminate in three short toes, a little palmated at the base, together with a 

 thumb that does not reach the ground. 



[This curious bird is most nearly related to the Guans, and should rank in the Poultry order : the 

 affinity is particularly apparent when it is seen alive. In its anatomy, it chiefly differs from the Galli- 

 naceous type in wanting the appendage to the furcula, which latter is otherwise similar to that of a 

 Fowl, and in having the sternal emarginations much less deep. It is essentially a Poultry bird with 

 the long legs of a Crane ; but differs in its short and elevated hind-toe from. the Carassows and Guans]. 



We are acquainted with one species only, from South America, (3/. cristatns, GeoflF. ; Palamedea cristata, Gm. ; 

 Saria, d'Az.), which surpasses the Heron in size, and subsists on Lizards and insects, which it hunts for on high 

 grounds and along the borders of forests. Plumage yellowish-grey, waved with brown ; some thinly-barbed fea- 

 thers at the base of the beak, forming a slight crest, which is thrown backward. It flies but seldom, and then 

 badly ; and its loud voice resembles that of a young Turkey. As its flesh is esteemed, it has been domesticated in 

 several places. 



The family of 



CULTRIROSTRES 



Is known by a long, thick, and stout beak, which is most generally trenchant and pointed, 

 and is almost entirely composed of the birds comprehended in the genus Ardea of Linnaeus. 

 In a great number of species, the trachea of the male [and of the female also] forms various 

 curves : their coeca are short [or moderate], and the true Herons have even only one. 



We subdivide it into three tribes, the Cranes, the Herons properly so designated, and the 

 Storks. 



The first tribe forms but one great genus, that of 



The Cranes {Grus, Cuv.), — 

 Which have a straight beak, but slightly cleft ; the membranous groove of the nostrils, which is large 

 and concave, occupying nearly half its length. Their legs are scutellated, with toes of moderate length ; 

 the external but slightly palmated, and the thumb barely reaching to the ground. A more or 

 less considerable portion of the head and neck is bare of feathers in nearly all of them. Their habits 

 are more terrene, and their nourishment is derived more from vegetables, than in the following 

 genera : they have accordingly a muscular gizzard, and tolerably long cceca. The inferior larj'nx is 

 provided with only one muscle at each side. 



At the head of the genus we place, as Pallas has already done. 



The Agami (Psnpkia, Lin.), — 

 Which has a shorter beak than the others, the head and neck invested merely with down, and the 

 circumference of the eyes naked. They live in the woods, and subsist on grain and fruits. 



P 



