602 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



Ord. grallatores. 



Grallce, L. — Waders — Shore-birds. 



Lower part of the tibia bare ; tarsus more or less elongated ; 

 feet of most, with the hind toe imperfect and raised, or absent ; 

 in a few long, and on the same plane as the front toes ; bill 

 very varied ; tail usually short ; wings lengthened. 



The nudity of the tibia to a greater or less extent, and the usually 

 long legs, are the only general features characteristic of this order, 

 which comprises a considerable number of Ground-birds of very 

 varied appearance, habits, and structure. Many have long necks, 

 proportional, in most cases, to the length of the legs. The bill 

 varies from the gigantic beak of the Adjutant and Mycteria, to the 

 short and slender bills of the Plovers and Tringce. The outer toe is 

 usually joined to the middle one by a short web, and the inner toe 

 occasionally ; whilst in some the toes are perfectly separated. In a 

 few the toes are bordered by a loose web. All, except those of 

 the first family, (which cannot fly at all) and some of the Rails, fly 

 well, and stretch their legs out behind them during flight. They 

 frequent chiefly the edges of rivers, seas and lakes ; many affect 

 swamps, and a few dry plains or even sandy deserts. They feed 

 mostly on fish, reptiles, molluscs, insects, &c, and a few on vegetable 

 matter. In a large number, there is a vernal moult, and the plumage 

 changes considerably, in many becoming more or less black, in 

 others rufous. They comprise several very distinct groups, with 

 anatomical differences, and of varied habits, which will be best 

 noticed under each tribe. 



They divide into two great groups, the one in which the young, 

 as in the Rasores, run at once when hatched ; the other in which 

 the young are helpless at birth, and remain in the nest till near 

 maturity, the whole forming five tribes. 



A. — The young, when hatched, able to run at once. 



1st, Tribe. — Strut hiones, comprising the Ostriches, Emeus, &c. 



2nd, Pressirostres, containing the Bustards, Plovers, and Cranes. 



ord, Longirostres. — Snipes and Sandpipers. 



