400 AVES. 
lives are passed in ponds and marshes. Their polished plumage is 
not less adapted to this kind of life than their conformation, and 
these birds establish an evident link between the order of the Gral- 
latoriz and that of the Palmipedes. There is but one in Europe, 
F. atra, F. aterrima, and F. xthiops, Gm.; La Foulque, Enl. 
197, Frisch. 208, Naum. 30, f. 40. (TheCoot.) The shield of 
a deep slate colour; edge of the wings whitish; in the nuptial 
season the shield becomes red: found wherever there is a 
pond.(1) 
We will terminate this sketch of the Grallatorie with three 
genera, which it is diflicult to associate with any other, and 
which may be considered as forming separately so many small 
families. 
Curonis, Foster.—VAcGinALIs, Lath. 
Or the Sheath-Bills. Their legs are short, almost like those of the 
Gallinacez; their tarsi scutellated, their bill stout and conical, hav- 
ingahard substance enveloping its base, which, it appears, the bird 
has the power of raising and depressing. 
Only one species is known, and that is from New Holland, 
Vag. Chionis, Lath. III, pl. 89, Chionis necrophaga, Vieill. Gal. 
258. Itis the size of a Partridge, with entirely white plumage. 
It haunts the sea-coast, where it feeds on the dead animals 
thrown up by the waves. 
GLAREOLA. 
The beak of the Pratincoles is short, conical, arcuated throughout, 
has a large opening, and resembles that of the Gallinacee, Their 
excessively long and pointed wings remind us of the Swallows,(2) 
or of the Palmipedes of the high seas; their legs are of a moderate 
length, their tarsi scutellated, and their external toes somewhat pal-: 
mated; their thumb touches the ground. Aquatic worms and insects 
constitute their food. The European species, 
Glar. austriaca, Enl. 882; Glar. pratincola, Leach,’ Lin. 
Trans., XIII, pl. xii; Naum., 29, F. 59, is brown above, white 
beneath and on the rump; a black circle round the throat; feet 
and base of the beak, reddish. It appears to be found in all the | 
north of the eastern continent. (3) 
(1) Add the Coot of Madagascar (Ful. cristata, Gm.) Enl.797; Vieill. Gal. 269. 
Add also F’. americana, Gm.; Wils. IX, pl. Ixxiii, f. 1. 4m. Ed. 
(2) Linnzus (Edit. XII) even placed the common epPgiEs in the genus Hirundo, - 
under the name of Hir. pratincola. 
(3) Glareola nevia, Gm., is the young of the common species. See Leach, Lin. 
