ORDER GUALL.E. '293 



THE FIFTH ORDER OF BIRDS, WADERS, 



Grall^, Lin. Echassiers, Cuv. 



Are named from their habits, and from the conforma- 

 tion from which their habits result. They may be 

 known by the nudity of the lower part of their legs, 

 and in general by the height of their tarsi, circum- 

 stances which enable them to walk to a certain depth 

 in the water without wetting their feathers, and thus 

 to fish by means of their neck and bill, which are in 

 general proportioned to the length of the legs. 

 Those which have a strong bill, feed on fish and rep- 

 tiles ; those whose bill is weak on worms, and insects. 

 A very small number of them feed partially on 

 grains and herbs, and these alone live at a distance 

 from water. The exterior toe is in general united 

 at its base to the middle toe, by means of a short 

 membrane. In some, there are two similar mem- 

 branes ; in others they are entirely wanting, and the 

 toes are quite separate ; it sometimes happens, though 

 rarely, that they are bordered all along, or palmated, 

 to the end. The thumb is wanting in many of the 

 genera. All these conditions influence their mode of 

 life, more or less aquatic. Almost all these birds, if 

 we except the ostriches and the cassowary, have long 

 wings, and are good flyers ; they stretch their legs 



