GRALL/E. 



237 



Tliat of Europe (I-L osfyalegus, Lin.) is commonly termed Sea-pie, from its black and white pluraaj^e; the belly, 

 throat, and base of the wings and tail, being of the latter colour ; beak and feet bright orange-red. [There are 

 several more.] 



'We shall place near the Plovers and Oyster-catcliers 



The Coursers {CursorivSf Lacepede ; Tachyilromvs, Illiger), — 

 The beak of which, more slender, but equally conical, is arcuated, witliout any groove, and moderately 

 cleft; the wings are shorter, aiid the legs more elevated, and terminated by three toes, without any 

 tliuuib or palmature. [They approximate the Bustards in appearance and habits, and have a similar 

 large membranous stomach ; hut do not change colour with the seasons, and are very much smaller : 

 are peculiar also to the eas.tern hemisphere]. 



One has been met with, but very rarely, in France and England, which is indigenous to the north of Africa, the 

 Cream-coloured Courser (C isahcUiiats, Meyer), of a pale fulvous colour above, white beneath, [the young trans- 

 versely rayed above with narrow dusky lines. There are several others.] 



As far as can be judged from the exierior, it is here that we should also place 



The CiiraAMA {Microdactylus, Geoff. ; Dicholophux, Jlliger) — 

 Which has a longer beak, more curved, and cleft as far as the eye, which imparts somewhat of the 

 lihysiognomy and disposition of the Birds of Prey, approaching also a little to the Herons. The legs, 

 scutellated and very long, ternjinate in three short toes, a bttle palmated at the base, together with a 

 thumb that does not reacii the ground. 



[This curious bird is most nearly related to the Guaus, and should rank iu the Poultry order : the 

 affinity is particularly apparent when it is seen alive. In its anatomy, it chiefly differs from the Galli- 

 naceous type in wanting the appendage to the furcula, which latter is otherwise similar to that of a 

 Fowl, and in having the sternal emarginations much less deej). It is essentially a Poultry bird with 

 the long legs of a Crane ; but dilfers in its short and elevated hind-toe from the Carassows and Guans]. 



We are acquainted with one species only, f.-om South America, (-1/. crintatus, Geoff. ; Palamedea cy'tntala, Gm. ; 

 iSaria, d'Az.), which surpasses the Heron in size, and subsists on Lizards and insects, which it hunts for on high 

 gi-ounds and along the borders of forests, riumage yellowish-grey, waved with brown ; some thinly-barbed fea- 

 thers at the base of the beak, forming a slight crest, which is thrown backward. It flies but seldom, and then 

 badly ; and its loud voice resembles that of a young Turkey. As its tlesh is esteemed, it has been domesticated in 

 several places. 



The family of 



CULTRIROSTRES 



Is knoMn by a long, thick, iiiitl stout beak, which is most generally trenchant and pointed, 

 iiu<l is almost cntirel}" coinjiosed of the Ijn-ds comprehended in the genus Ardea of Linnjeus. 

 In a great number of species, the trachea of the male [and of the female also] forms various 

 curves : their cceca are short [or moderate], and the true Herons have even only one. 



Y\'e subtUvide it into three tribes, the Cranes, the lierous properly so designated, and the 

 Storks. 



The first tribe forms biit one great genns, that of 



The Craxes {Grus, Cuv.),— 

 Which have a straight beak, but slightly cleft ; the membranous groove of the nostrils, which is large 

 and concave, occupying nearly half its length. Their legs are scutellated, with toes of moderate length ; 

 the external but slightly palmated, and the thumb barely reaching to the ground. A more or 

 less considerable portion of the head and neck is bare of feathers in nearly all of them. Their habits 

 are more terrene, and their nourishmeut is derived more from vegetables, than in the following 

 genera ; they have accordingly a nniscular gizzaid, and tolerably long cceca. The inferior larynx is 

 provided with only one muscle at each side. 



At the bead of the genus we place, as Pallas has already done. 



The Ag.\mi (Psnjjlim, Lin.), — 

 Which has a shorter beak than the others, the head and neck invested merely with down, and the 

 circumference of the eyes naked. They live in the woods, and sidjsist on grain and fruits. 



