KEEL-BREASTED BIRDS. 



251 



The Flamingo (Phamcopterida) (Fig. 287) is common 

 in the wanner portions of America, also southern Europe. 

 At the Bahamas the nests are of marl, columnar, from one 

 to four feet high, partly in the water. The birds set with 

 legs doubled under them, not hanging down. 



Order VI. Wading Birds (Grallatores) . General 

 Characteristics. The birds of this order are characterized 



FIG. 288. A group of wading birds, i, stilt ; 2, avocet ; 3, peewit ; 4, 

 dunlins ; 5, curlew sandpiper ; 6, sanderling ; 7, oyster-catcher ; 8, curlew ; 

 9, turnstone. 



by long legs and neck, bill generally long, body com- 

 pressed, the wings short and rounded. The rails are run- 

 ners, and the cranes essentially wading birds and slow fliers. 



The Cranes (Gruidce) are large birds, the head 

 sometimes devoid of feathers, the legs long, the toes not 

 webbed, the hinder one being highly elevated. 



The sand-hill crane (Grus Canadensis) is a common 



American form. They attain a length of four feet, and their 

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