GRALLATORIE. 331 
rarely, a species belonging to the north of Africa, of a light fawn 
colour, with a whitish belly, the Charadrius gallicus, Gm.; Curso- 
rius isabellinus, Meyer, Enl. 795; and another has been brought 
from India of a brownish-grey, with a red breast, the Ch. coroman- 
delicus, Curs. asiaticus, Lath. Vieill. Gal. 232; Enl. 892. Each of 
them has a black streak and a white one behind the eye. Their 
name is derived from the swiftness with which they run. Nothing 
is known with respect to their habits*. 
As far as we can judge from their exterior, it is here that we can most 
conveniently place the 
Cariama, Briss.—Micropactytus, Geoff.—Dicuotopnust, 
Iilig. 
Whose bill is longer and more hooked, the commissure extending under 
the eye, which gives them somewhat 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 the base, and by a thumb which cannot reach the 
ground. 
One species only is known, and that is from South America, the 
Micro cristatus, Geoft.; Palamedea cristata, Gm.; Saria, Azzar.; 
Ann. du Mus. d'Hist. Nat. XIII, pl. xxvi; Col. 237, and Vieill. 
Gal. 259. 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. Its plumage is a fawn-coloured grey, waved with brown; 
some slender feathers on the base of the bill form a light tuft which 
inclines forwards. It flies but seldom, and then badly; its loud 
voice resembles that of a young Turkey. As its flesh is much es- 
teemed, it has been domesticated in several places. 
FAMILY III. 
—~+— 
CULTRIROSTRES. 
This family is recognised by the thick, long, and strong bill, which is 
most generally trenchant and pointed, and is almost wholly composed of 
the birds comprised in the genus ArpEa of Linneus. Jn a great num- 
ber of species, the trachea of the male forms various curves; their ceca 
are short, and even the true Herons have but one. ” 
* Add the Coure-vite a ailes violettes (Curs. Chalcopterus, T.), Col. 298;—the C. @ 
double collier (C. bicinctus, T.), Man. Orn.;—Curs. Teminckii, Swains. Zool. Hl. 106. 
+ Microdactylus, short-finger. Dicholophus, crest in two rows. Hamatopus, blood- 
coloured feet. M. Vieillot has preferred the barbarous name of Cariama, which must 
be pronounced gariama, 
