GRALLATORLE. 155 



of a moderate length, their tarsi reticulated, and their feet divided into 

 three toes. 

 It is impossible to avoid placing near the Plovers and Oyster-catchers, the 



CURSORIUS, Lac. 



Whose beak, more slender, but equally conical, is arcuated, has no groove, 

 and is moderately cleft; the wings are shorter, and their legs, which are 

 longer, are terminated by three toes without membranes and without a 

 thumb. 



As far as we can judge from their exterior, it is here that we can most 

 conveniently place the 



MICRODACTYLUS, Geoff. DICHOLOPHUS, Illig.(l) 

 Whose beak is longer and more hooked, the commissure extending under 

 the eye, which gives them something of the physiognomy and disposition 

 of birds of prey, and approximates them somewhat to the Herons. Their 

 extremely long and scutellated legs are terminated by very short toes, 

 slightly palmated at base, and by a thumb which cannot reach the ground. 

 One species only is known, and that is from South America, the Micro, 

 cristatus, Geoff. It is larger than the Heron, and feeds on lizards and in- 

 sects, which it hunts for on high grounds and along the edges of forests. 



FAMILY III. 

 CULTRIROSTRES. 



This family is recognized by the thick, long, and strong beak, 

 which is most generally trenchant and pointed, and is almost wholly 

 composed of the birds comprised in the genus ARDEA of Linnseus. 

 In a great number of species, the trachea of the male forms various 

 curves. 



We subdivide it into three tribes, the Cranes, the true Herons, 

 and the Storks. The first tribe forms but one great genus. 



GRUS, Lin. 



The Cranes have a straight beak, but slightly cleft; the membranous fossse 

 of the nostrils, which are large and concave, occupy nearly one half of its 

 length. Their legs are scutellated, and the toes moderate; the external 

 ones but slightly palmate, and the thumb hardly reaching to the ground. 



(1) Microdactylus, short-finger. DicJwlophits, crest in two rows. 



