WADING BIRDS. 545 
Allied to the gallinules is the “‘ giant ”’ or Gallonula (Le- 
guatia) gigantea of Schlegel (Fig. 467), which formerly lived 
in the Mascarene Islands, having been observed as late as: 
1694, Itstood two metres (over six feet) high. With it was: 
associated a large blue galli- 
nule—Porphyrio.(Notornis ?). 
ceruiescens Selys—which was 
last seen on the Isle Bourbon 
between 1669 and 1672. It. 
was incapable of flight, but. 
ran with exceeding swiftness. 
The cranes are of great 
stature, the legs and neck very 
Goth CEE led, Cate) Biome long, with the head sometimes. 
‘oues’ Key. 5 . 
curiously tufted. With the 
true herons are associated the night herons and the bitterns 
of the United States, the boat-billed heron of Central Am- 
erica, and the odd Baleniceps rex of Africa, which has an 
enormous head and broad, large bill. The herons are suc- 
ceeded by the singular spoon-bills represented by the rose- 
ate spoon-bill, and which, with 
the wood Ibis and other species 
of this group, adorn the swamps 
and bayous of the South Atlan- 
tic and Gulf States. 
The shore-birds, or the cur- 
jews (Mumenius longirostris, 
Fig. 468), plover, sandpipes, 
peeps, snipes (Gallinago Wil- 
sonit, Fig. 469), woodcock, and 
stilt (Himantopus nigricollis, 
Fig. 470), are long-legged, long- OEE 
billed birds, going in flocks by pe 
the seashore or river-banks, Fig, 469—American Snipe—From 
sometimes living inland on low Temey’s Z0elegy- 
plains ; they are not, generally speaking, nest-builders, the 
eggs being laid in rude nests or hollows in the ground. 
They feed on worms, insects, and snails, either picking 
them up from the surface or boring for them in the mud or 
