144 GRALLID^. 



tioned, which do not reach the water's edge in some 

 of their genera ; and even the most aquatic of the 

 sea-birds are reared on the shores, and compelled to 

 seek the shelter and safety of these when the ocean 

 is in its fury. Some of the eagles fish ; some of the 

 omnivorous birds seek their food within flood-mark 

 when the tide ebbs ; the swallow tribe skim the sur- 

 faces of pools ; almost all the syndactyli live in holes 

 in the banks, and the kingfisher is named from the 

 manner in which it finds its food ; even the common 

 pigeons are found wild in sea-beaten clifls ; and one 

 species at least of gallinaceous bird, has the feet par- 

 tially webbed, and frequents marshy places. When 

 therefore we speak of a " bank bird," our expression 

 is esceediogly vague, unless we go on to explain at 

 length how it is employed on the bank, and that 

 explanation would give us the information as well 

 without the name as with it. This is therefore a 

 portion of the class, and it is a large and im- 

 portant portion, which is not clearly set forth in the 

 system. 



The distinctions of runners {Cursores), and waders 

 {GralUdcz), are applicable and definite enough, as 

 expressive of the extremes of the order ; though 

 walking and wading are motions of the same kind 

 and performed vAxXx the same organs, only with a 

 difference of the element, and a difference of the 

 organs to adapt them to these. But they interfere 

 on the confines ; and there are some, indeed man}', 

 of the species which perform their ground motions so 

 equally on the land and in the water, that they cannot 

 with propriety be considered either as walkers or as 

 waders. If, however, we separate those species 

 which have no aquatic habit, but are found upon dry 

 places only, and they are habitually found upon pas- 



