( 120 ) 



ORDER XVI. AUCUPATRICES. 

 STALKERS. 



Birds of large or moderate size, having the body much 

 compressed and light ; the neck very long and slender ; 

 the head oblong, compressed, and flattened above ; the 

 bill large, generally conical, but varying considerably in 

 form ; the legs long ; the tibia bare to a large extent ; 

 the tarsus scutellate ; the toes four, the hind toe large, 

 and on the same plane with the rest. The wings are 

 large and broad; the tail short. They live on fishes, 

 Crustacea, reptiles, and other aquatic animals, swallowing 

 their food entire ; frequent the shores of the sea, estua- 

 ries, rivers, lakes, and marshes ; have a light or buoyant, 

 but slow flight ; walk in a sedate and graceful manner ; 

 form a very large, generally flat nest, which they place 

 on the ground or on trees ; and lay few, from two to five 

 elliptical light-coloured eggs. The young, at first scan- 

 tily covered with down, remain in the nest until fledged. 



In this order are two distinct groups, the Ardeinae 

 and Tantalinee ; the former very distinct from all the 

 other Grallatorial groups ; but the latter passing into 

 the Tringinse, some of them being little distinguishable 

 from Curlews. 



FAMILY XXXIX. ARDEIN^E. ARDEINE 

 BIRDS, OR HERONS. 



Birds generally of large size, having the body high, 

 but much compressed ; the neck long, generally slender ; 



