SYNOPSIS OF ORDERS AND FAMILIES. 
GREEN HERON. 
Family.2o0. HERONS, EGRETS, AND BITTERNS. ARDEIDA. 
Bill usually straight and sharply pointed; lores naked; head feathered; tarsus with 
transverse scales; middle toe-nail pectinate or with a comblike edge. 
ORDER VIII. Cranes, Rarys, Coors, GALLINULES, Erc. PALU- 
DICOLE. 
(3 families, 16 species, 3 subspecies.) 
Birds varying greatly in size and appearance, but all agreeing (and 
differing from //erodiones) in having the hind-toe elevated, that is, leav- 
ing the foot at a higher level than the front toes; tail short; legs 
usually long. All fly with the neck extended, a fact by which Cranes 
in flight may be known from Herons. Rails are short-winged skulkers 
in grassy marshes; Gallinules frequent reedy shores; Coots, which alone 
of the Order have webbed (lobate) toes, are as aquatic as Ducks, from. 
which they may be known by their pointed, white bill, nodding motion 
of the head when swimming, aud habit of pattering over the water 
when alarmed. 
SANDHILL CRANE. 
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