216 GRALLATORES. CURSORIUS. 
Genus CURSORIUS, Zara. SWIFTFOOT. 
GENERIC CHARACTERS. 
Bill as short or shorter than the head, depressed at the 
base, curved towards the end, and pointed. 'Tomia of the 
under mandible covered by those of the upper one, and fol- 
lowing its curve. 
Nostrils basal, lateral, oval, and surrounded by a small 
protuberance. 
Wings of mean length, having the first quill-feather nearly 
equal to the second, which is the longest. 
Legs long, slender, with the tibiae naked for a consider- 
able space above the tarsal joint. Feet three-toed ; toes all 
directed forwards, short, and united at their base by a mem- 
brane. Naked part of the tibia, front of the tarsus, and up- 
per part of the toes scutellated. In nails, that of the middle 
toe broad, with its inner margin pectinated. 
The genus Cursorius was established by Laruam, for 
the reception of the two species then known, and which had 
been included by Gmetrn in the genus Charadrius of Lin- 
N£us, notwithstanding they exhibited well-marked charac- 
ters peculiar to themselves. 'TrEmminck adopted Latruam’s 
title, but transferred the genus from its situation, adjoining 
to the Plovers, to his order Cursorius ; which nearly answers 
to the family of Struthionide, in the rasorial order of the 
present system. This arrangement was also adopted in the 
volume of letter-press that accompanied the first series of the 
* Tllustrations of British Ornithology ;” but as subsequent 
investigation into the affinities of the genus seems confirma- 
tive of the correctness of the opinion of Mr Vicors, with re- 
spect to the situation it holds in the natural arrangement, I 
have again placed it amongst the Charadriada, in the order 
