332 



COMPABATIVE ZOOLOGY. 



The legs are long or strong, and the knee is free from the 



body. The hind 

 toe, when present, 

 is small and ele- 

 vated. 



5. OraUatores, or 

 "Waders. — These 

 'jl /s=2- are readily distin- 

 guished by their 

 long and bare legs. 

 Generally, also, the 

 toes, neck, and bill 

 are <rf pi'oportion- 

 ate length, and the 

 tail short. They 

 feed on small ani- 

 mals, and, with a 

 few exceptions,f re- 



qnent tlie banks of rivers. In flying, their legs are 



stretched out behind, while in most other Birds they are 



folded under the body. 



Such are the Kails, 



Cranes, Herons, Storks, 



Ibises, Stilts, Snipes, 



Sandpipers, and Plov- 

 ers. 

 6. Masores, or Scratch- 



ers. — Asa rule, this 



order, so valuable to 



Man, is characterized 



by a short, arched bill ; 



short and concave 



wings, unfitted for pro- 



tracted flight; stout 



legs, of medium length ; and four toes, the three in front 



FiG. 313.— Heron (X)-di 



)v Mavsh Hen (Ballua eUgane). 

 United States. 



