€}RALLATORES S WADERS OR STILTED BIRDS. 158 



occupy the first position among the families of Grallatores. Chara» 

 driadae (Plovers), will stand second. Rallidae (Rails, water hens and 

 Coots) come next. Scolopacidae (Snipes), follow, and PhaleropidaCg 

 as already explained, seem to me to complete the series, nor am I 

 acquainted with any Grallatorial birds which do not fall within one 

 or other of these families. I shall offer a few remarks on each of 

 them in their order^ endeavouring to determine the sub-families, and 

 noticing what is most deserving of attention in respect to their habits 

 and mutual relations as far as the necessary limits of this article will 

 permit. 



It is very difficult to give precise and clear definitions of groups of 

 animals or plants, even when we plainly perceive the natural relation- 

 ship, probably because there are various points of resemblance, some 

 one of which fails in one example, another in another, leaving us none 

 which holds in every member of the groups, though considering the 

 whole structure, there are sufficient reasons for placing each in this 

 position rather than any other. The consequence is, that we are 

 obliged to distinguish each natural assemblage by all its well marked 

 characters, and we must not be too rigid in expecting exact conformity 

 to all of them in. every individual case, though we must find a prepon- 

 deraace of the characteristics of the group, and expect to be able to 

 assist our judgment by other relations between the particular object 

 and known members of the group. This is the difficulty which in- 

 terferes with \he good working of our systematic tables, and which 

 making extended knowledge and experience often requisite for ascer- 

 laining the objects of natural science, is apt to discourage beginners 

 from a pursuit in other respects most interesting and delightful. We 

 have probably at length reached a just view of the limits of the Order 

 ■Grallatores the Wading birds, and can now see how certain charactera 

 ought to have prevented mistakes which prevailed for a time ; but the 

 fact that Cuvier was led by their long necks and legs to place the Os- 

 trich and its allies, the Bustards, and even the Flamingo among the 

 Waders, whilst lessening our discouragement at our own difficulties, 

 will show what various considerations carefully weighed, and studied 

 under every possible light, gradually lead even men of the most ex^ 

 tensive knowledge and the greatest genius to the perception of truths, 

 which when once established meet with ready acceptance, and only 

 .excite wonder at their ever having been doubted. Perhaps the 

 -difficulty of distinct definition in natural science is no where more fel$ 



