f, ORDER 
GRALL^. 
Rostrum diversum. 
Pedes tetradactyli, aut mediocr^s aui longi, validi vel tenues ^ 
FEMORA supra genua plus minus've denudata •, tarsi rotundati^ 
nudi reticulati ; digiti fissi aut basi membrana connexi ; pollex 
aut u terra elevatus^ aut apice solo insistens, vel humi in- 
cumbens. 
Beale various. 
Feet four-toed, moderate, or long, strong, or slender j the 
thighs more or less naked above the knee ; tarsi rounded, 
■naked, and reticulated j toes cleft, or connected at the base by 
a membrane 5 the hinder one either elevated from the ground, 
the tip alone, or the whole resting thereon. 
These birds run about on the sea shores, and the 
borders of lakes and rivers : they subsist upon anne- 
leides, and small fishes and their fry, reptiles, and 
aquatic insects, the Cranes excepted, which live on 
beetles, larvae, and seeds : they live in pairs, but 
during their migrations, which take place regularly 
in these climates, to the south of Europe and the 
shores of the Mediterranean, they associate in 
flocks. In many of the genera the species moultand 
change their plumage regularly twice a year ; in 
others they always retain the same plumage, un- 
dergoing the proper moult. The division of this 
and the preceding order is not so natural as 
could be wished, the Squatarolae approaching 
very closely to the Charadrii, and the Vanelli 
materially receding from the birds of the other 
genera. 
