GRRALATORES: WADERS OR STILTED BIRDS. 151 



considered this subject in a former paper, in which I have shown that 

 the family Struthionidae represents the Grallatores in the order 

 Rasores, and I have endeavoured to bring together the subfamilies, 

 several of which had been allowed to remain in very unsuitable places. 

 Among these was Psophinae, the Trumpeter birds, representing the 

 Rasores in the family, but which even Dr, George Gray regards as a 

 subfamily of Ardeidae. Cuvier likewise retained among the Gralla- 

 tores the Flamingo (Phaenicopterus), whose long legs undoubtedly 

 give it the aspect of a wader, so that one might plausibly maintain 

 that it is the representative of the Natatores among Grallatores were 

 it not that the Duck-like beak and the internal structure correspond- 

 ing with the Duck family, prove that it is really but a long-legged 

 form of Anatidae representing in that great family the Grallatorian 

 type. Dr, G. Gray has rightly perceived its family connection, but 

 has placed it first among the subfamilies of Anatidae, in order to 

 meet the last of the Grallatores. I must, nevertheless, presume to 

 think that its relation to the Grallatores is strictly one of analogy and 

 smpljfing no immediate affinity should not affect its position. Dr. 

 Gray makes the Rallidae (the Rail and Water hen family) as the 

 last of the Grallatores join the Anatidae which he makes the first 

 family of Natatores. The real connection I should maintain to be 

 that the Rallidae represent the Rasorial tendency among Grallatores, 

 the Anatidae among Natatores, each being the third family in its 

 order, whilst Phaenicopterinae is the Grallatorial subfamily amongst 

 Anatidae, and the coots which Dr. Gray places immediately before it, form 

 the Natatorial representative among the subfamilies of Rallidae. This 

 is a striking example of the way in which those analogies which so 

 beautifully bind together the order of Nature may mislead us if we 

 confound them with direct afiinities. I cannot venture on this crit- 

 icism which I submit to the judgment of the reflecting and candid 

 reader, without, at the same time, bearing my humble testimony to 

 the great value of Dr. Gray's work which displays not only the great 

 knowledge which his position and resources might lead us to expect 

 but an amount of skill and judgment rarely equalled, and which have 

 materially contributed to advance the attractive branch of science to 

 which he has devoted himself. His great work has for some years 

 been my frequent companion in the museum and the study, and I 

 gratefully acknowledge both the pleasure and the assistance which I 

 have derived from it. I will now attempt a statement of the familiei 



