2 GRALLATORES. GRUIDA. 
those considered most typical in the centre, in accordance 
with the views of Mr Vicors), are the Gruide, Ardeade, 
Scolopacida, Rallide, and Charadriada, of which the Ardea- 
de and S‘colopacide are the typical or normal groups, as 
partaking most equally of the advantages of both elements. 
Of the other three or aberrant Divisions, the Gruide and 
Charadriada, placed at the extremes of the Order, are more 
attached to the land in their habits, and serve not only to 
connect this with the preceding Order of Rasores or Galli- 
naceous Birds, but to support that succession of affinities 
which prevails within the circle of the order itself; while the 
third, or Raillide, deviating in form from the other groups, 
and exhibiting in many respects a close approach to birds 
more decidedly aquatic, serves as a connecting link between 
the present order, and the succeeding one of Natatores. 
Famity .—GRUID. 
‘Many of the birds of this family were formerly comprised 
in the genus Ardea of Linnaus, but they differ from the re- 
mainder of that group not only in the form of the bill and 
feet (the first of which is thicker and more obtuse at the end, 
and the latter usually much shorter than in the true Ardee), 
but a marked and considerable difference exists in their ha- 
bits and manners, which are nearer allied to those of the 
land birds, and their food, instead of being entirely animal, 
and derived from the water, is in a great measure vegetable. 
Their plumage and general carriage also indicate a near al- 
lance with some of the Struthionide of the preceding order, 
through which the chain of affinities connecting the present 
order with the more typical gallinaceous birds, is supported. 
In addition to the recently instituted genera Anthropoides, 
the type of which is the Numidian Crane (Ardea Virgo of 
Liyy.) ;_ Balearica, represented by the Crowned Crane 
(Ardea Pavonina of Lixy.); and Grus, of which the Ardea 
