163 AVES. 



FAMILY V. 



MACRODACTYLI. 



This family is furnished with very long toes, fitted for walking on 

 the grass of marshes, and even for swimming, in those numerous 

 species, especially, in which they are bordered with a membrane. 

 There are no membranes, however, between the bases of their toes, 

 not even between the external ones. The beak, more or less com- 

 pressed on the sides, is lengthened or shortened according to the 

 genus, never, however, becoming as slender or as weak as that of 

 the preceding family. The body of these birds is also singularly 

 compressed, a circumstance which is owing to the narrowness of the 

 sternum; their wings are moderate or short, and their flight feeble 

 They all have a long thumb. 



They have been divided into two tribes according to the armature 

 or non-armature of their wings; but this character is hable to excep- 

 tions. 



Jacanas, Briss. — Pakka, Lin. 

 The Jacanas are greatly distinguished from the other Grallatorise by having^ 

 foiir very long toes, separated down to their root, the nails of which, that 

 of the thumb in particular, are also extremely long and pointed, from which 

 peculiarity, they have received their vulgar name of Surgeons. The beak 

 is similar to that of the Lapwings in its moderate length, and in the slight 

 inflation of its end. Their wing is armed with a spur. They are noisy and 

 quarrelsome birds, which inhabit marshes of hot climates, where they walk 

 with great facility by means of their long toes. 



Palamedea, Lin. 

 The Kamichi resemble the Jacanas, but on a very large scale, in the two 

 strong spurs of each of their wings, in their long toes and strong nails, that 

 of the thumb in particular, which is long and straight as in the Larks; but 

 their beak, whose aperture is small, is but slightly conipressed, and is not 

 inflated; the upper mandible, also, is somewhat arcuated. Their legs are 

 reticulated. A distinct genus, 



Chauna, Illig., 

 Has been made of the Paira chavaria, L.; Cha'ta of Paraguay, which has no 

 horn on the vertex, and whose occiput is ornamented with a circle of erec- 

 tile feathers. The head and upper pai-t of the neck are only covered with 

 down, and it has a black collar. It chiefly feeds on aquatic plants; and the 



