Order VII. GRALLiE L% 



inn.* 



comprehends a large series of birds that have the lower portion of their Tibia?, or Thighs, naked, and 

 the Tarsi lengthened, rounded, and slender. 



The first Family, 



CHARADRIAD.E, or Plovers, 



have the Bill short, with the basal portion of the culmen rather depressed and weak, and the apical part 

 strong and swollen ; the Nostrils placed in a deep longitudinal groove of various length ; the Tarsi 

 lengthened ; the hind Toe totally wanting, or small and elevated. 



The first Subfamily, 



CEDICNEMIN^E, or Thick-knees, 



have the Bill as long as, or longer than, the head, with the culmen slightly depressed at the base and 

 swollen at the tip, and the gonys more or less angulated ; the Tarsi lengthened, with three rather short 

 Toes in front. 



CEdicnemus Temm.\ 



Bill rather longer than the head, the culmen straight, with the apical half arched and curved to the 

 tip, the sides compressed, and the gonys nearly half the length of the bill, angulated, and advancing 

 upwards to the tip ; the nostrils in a subtriangular membranous groove, with the aperture longitudinal 

 and anterior. Wings of moderate length, pointed ; with the first quill shorter than the second, which 

 is the longest, and the tertials the length of the quills. Tail moderate and wedge-shaped. Tarsi 

 lengthened, three or four times the length of the middle toe, and covered with hexagonal scales. Toes 

 short, the inner shorter than the outer, and both united to the middle one by a membrane at their base, 

 especially the outer ; the claws short and slightly curved. 



* Or the Grallatores of Illiger. 



t This genus was established by M. Temminck in (Manuel d'Ornithologie, 1st edit. p. 321.) 1815; and the Fedoa of Leach, proposed 

 in 1816, is coequal. 



