GRALLATORES 197 
Famity V.—CHARADRIAD&. 
Turs subdivision, constituting the fifth family of the Or- 
der, completes the circle ; and, by its alliance with certain 
members of the Gruid@ (with which that circle commenced), 
a regular series of affinities is maintained through the differ- 
ent families of the Gradlatores. It also comes into close con- 
tact with the Struthionide of the Rasorial Order, by the 
affinity subsisting between certain species of the genus Otis 
of that family, and the genera Cursorius, @dicnemus, &c. of 
the present one. The passage from the preceding family of 
the Rallide seems to be effected by the genus Hamatopus, 
which retains to a certain extent the habits and power of 
swimming possessed by the more aquatic groups of that fa- 
mily ; and which also exhibits rudiments of the lobated mem- 
brane that borders the toes of the genus Fulica. With the 
Scolopacide the connexion is supported by the genus Are- 
naria (Sanderling), which, with the three-toed feet of Cha- 
radrius, has a bill nearly corresponding in structure with 
that of the 7’ringas. An approach to that family, in the 
form of the feet, is also shewn by the genera Strepsilas, Va- 
nellus, and Squatarola, which alone of the Charadriade@ are 
furnished with a hind toe, or the rudiments of one. On this 
account the above genera have frequently been arranged with 
or near to the 7'’ringas ; but the structure of the bill, and 
other anatomieal details, as well as their habits, demonstrate 
a much closer alliance to the typical members of the family 
in which they are now placed, and point out this deviation 
in the form of the foot, as one of those beautiful gradations 
that compose the great chain of affinity by which the various 
orders and families are held together. 
The habits of the Charadriad@ vary according to the re- 
lative situation they hold with the other groups ; the typical 
