250 PHILOSOPHY OF ZOOLOGY. 



147. CoRYTHRix. Bill not ascending. Head crested. 

 Cuculus persa. 



B. Two toes before, and one behind. 



148. PicoiDES. Resembling the woodpeckers. Picus 

 tridactijlus. 



II. Lower end of the tibial joint naked. Tarsi naked. The 

 legs and neck, in general, are lengthened, in conformity 

 with the habits of the birds. They are denominated 

 Waders {Grallts) because they usually frequent marshy 

 grounds, and the margin of rivers, and wade among the 

 mud or water. A few species, however, reside constantly 

 on the dry land. 



A. Wings developed. All the species of this group are 

 qualified for flying, by the size of their wings, and for run- 

 ning, by the length of their legs. 



Gape remarkably large in proportion to the size of the 

 bill. 



149. Glareoal. Pratincole. Bill short, arched and 

 pointed. Nostrils linear and oblique. Wings long, pointed. 

 Tail forked. The G. Austriaca is the only authentic 

 species. From the size of the gape, and the form of the 

 tail and Avings, it has been associated, by some, with the 

 swallows. 



Gape of the ordinary size. 



Bill expanded at the extremity. 



150. Platalea. Spoonbill. The extremity of the 

 bill is broad, flat and thin like a spoon, and the two man- 

 dibles fold upon each other, like flaps of leather. The 

 nostrils are small and oval. The legs are reticulated. 

 P. leucorodia. 



Bill tapering. The remarkable form of the bill, in the 

 two preceding genera, prevent them from being con- 



