RUNNERS, OR CURSORES. 89 



called the Partridge. Its notes are a sort of whistle. 

 The "hest is built near a tuft of grass, and the eggs are 

 from ten to eighteen, pure white. 



The Mountain Quail is found in Oregon and Cali- 

 fornia. 



KUNNEES, OR CURSORES. 



These are the Ostriches and their relations. They 

 are very large birds with long legs and rudimentary 

 wings. The Camel-Bird, or great Ostrich of the deserts 

 of Africa and Asia, is about eight feet high, and has 

 only two toes to each foot. The Rhea is a three-toed 

 Ostrich of South America. The Cassowaries are three- 

 toed Ostriches which inhabit the Indian Archipelago 

 and Australia. And the Apteryx is an ostrich-like 

 bird of New Zealand. The Great Bustard of Europe, a 

 bird which attains a weight of thirty pounds, also be- 

 longs in this group ; its wings, however, are not rudi- 

 mentary, though very short. 



WADERS, OR GRALLATORES. 

 The "Waders have a long bill, long neck, and long legs. 

 They are the Cranes, Herons, Ibises, Plovers, Turn- 

 stones, Stilts, Woodcocks, Snipes, Yellow-Legs, Godwits, 

 Curlews, Rails, and Gallinules. They live mainly in 

 wet places, or upon marshes or shores, and are adapted 

 by their long legs for wading in shallow waters. They 

 feed upon worms, shell-fish, and other aquatic animals. 

 Figures 145-157 show some of the common kinds. 



HERONS. 



The Great Blue Heron, of North America, frequents 

 ponds and creeks, where it may be seen standing for 

 hours, upon a rock or stump, watching for fish. Wliun 



