GRALLATORES. 347 



as a balance to their head and neck, the tail being 

 generally very short. Many of them run with great 

 swiftness ; some of them swim with a facility equal 

 to that of the true Waterbirds, their toes being edged 

 with broad membranes : some genera want the hind 

 toe. It is an extensive Order, containing birds of 

 great variety of size, form, and habit. 



Ardea,* the Heron. 



The Herons, with the Cranes and Storks, chiefly 

 birds of large size, are most nearly allied to the 

 long-legged Gallinaceae. The bill is long and very 

 straight, and is used to transfix fishes, as the bird 

 stands quietly in the water on one foot immersed 

 to the heel. The claw of the middle toe is toothed 

 on its under surface. Including the Bitterns, marked 

 by plumage of yellow, spotted and dashed with black, 

 the genus Ardea includes nearly a hundred known 

 species. Their wings are very large and their flight 

 powerful, and hence the common Heron (A. Ci- 

 nerea) was a favourite bird of game in the old 

 amusement of hawking, the endeavours of each 

 bird to soar above the other being highly exciting 

 to the spectators. Some of the species, called 

 Egrets (A. Alba, &c.) are distinguished by the 

 long feathers of the back assuming the form of 

 slender plumes of great delicacy. The movements 

 of the Herons are marked by much elegance and 

 grace. 



* Its ancient Latin name. 



