Class 5. Aves. Order 6. Grallatores. 459 



much curved, and sigmoid; the feathers which cover the curves 

 are often long, making the whole neck look short and thick. The 

 food is usually of an animal nature. 



1. AUinares. Beak large and strong, mucli longer than the rest of the head, 

 with fii-m, homy sheath, small basal nares, wings large. Birds of considerable 

 size, which build their nests high above the ground (in trees, etc.) and foster the 

 young ones. 



(a) HeronB (Her odii). Hind toe long, with a large claw, resting its whole 

 length upon the gi-ound. In Britain there are : the Common Heron {Ardea 

 cimerea), abundant, nests in flocks in trees ; the Common Bittern {Botaurus 

 stellaris), with soft plumage, brownish hi colour, nocturnal ; the Night Heron 

 {Nyciicorax griseus) with thick bill, an occasional visitor ; and others. 



(6) Storks (Pelargi). Hind toe short, with small claw articulated at a 

 higher level than the other toes. Here belong the White Stork {Ciconia 

 alba), and the Black Stork(0. nigra) both of which occasionally visit England. 

 The Adjutant or Marabou {Leptoptil-as) with very powerful beak; 

 bare neck and head ; a carrion feeder, in Africa and the East Indies : the 

 White Spoonbill {Platalea leucorodia) with much-flattened bill broad at 

 the tip, in South Europe, rare in England: the white Sacred Ibis {Ibis 

 religiosa) of ancient Egypt, distinguished by the thin, soft, cui'ved beak, and the 

 naked head and neck ; now rare in Egypt but abundant in the Soudan and 

 Southern Nubia. 



2. Brevirostres. Bill short, usually fairly thick, with fii-m, homy sheath 

 and nares sub-basal. Most of them are small or of medium size and nest on 

 the ground ; the young ones can run from the first. 



(a) Plovers [Charadriidx). SmaU birds with or without a small hind 

 toe. Among those occurring in England the following may be mentioned : the 

 Peewit (Vanellus cristatus), with a crest of feathei-s on the head, hind toe 

 present, nests on meadow land; the Turnstone {Strepsilas interpres), with 

 hind toe, the short beak somewhat arched upwards, with a world-wide distribu- 

 tion on sea-coasts ; the Oyster Catcher {Hxmatopus ostralegus) without 

 hind toe and with a long beak ; the Golden Plover, {Charadrius pluvialis), 

 without hind toe ; with short beak clubbed at the tip : an inland form, on moors, etc. 

 Of these, the Turnstone is only a seasonal visitor, the others are indigenous. 



(b) The Bustards' (Ofi(£«). Large hen-hke forms with short conical 

 biU ; and short powerful toes ; the hind toe absent ; inhabiting dry treeless plains 

 The Large Bustard {Otis tarda) aud the Small Bustard (0. tetrax) 

 occasionally visit England ; the latter is a native of Mediterranean coasts. 



(c) Water-fowls, Bails {Rallidse). Toes long, hind toe well developed ; 

 beak varying in length. As examples may be mentioned : the Water Rails 

 {Ballus aquaticus), beak straight, larger than the rest of the head; the Corn 

 Crake pr Land Bail {Crex pratensis), a, migratoi-y f oi-m ; the Mo or -hen 

 {Gallinula chloropus) ; and the Common Coot {Fulica atra), with a ridge o 

 skin along each side of the fore toes ; both of the latter with a naked, homy 

 frontal plate above the beak. 



(d) Cranes {Gruidas). Large, with fairly lai-ge, straight, pointed beak; 

 legs very long, toes short, hind toe small, neck long. The Common Crane 

 {Grus cinerea) was formerly a native of England, but long ago ceased breeding 

 here, and now only appears at uncertain intervals. 



3. Debilirostres. BiU long and thin, often flexible, and with a soft skin 

 otherwise Hke the Brevirostres ; in mode of Ufe, true Wading Birds. The 

 Snipes {Scolopax), with long, straight, soft beak (Woodcock [S. rusiicola]. 

 Great Snipe [S. major'], Common snipe [S. gallinago]. Jack Snipe [S. gallinula']) : 



