Order  VII.  GRALlME  Linn.* 
comprehends  a  large  series  of  birds  that  have  the  lower  portion  of  their  Tibiae,  or  Thighs,  naked,  and 
the  Tarsi  lengthened,  rounded,  and  slender. 
The  first  Family, 
CHARADRIADiE,  or  Plovers, 
have  the  Bill  short,  with  the  basal  portion  of  the  culmen  rather  depressed  and  weak,  and  the  apical  part 
strong  and  swollen ;  the  Nostrils  placed  in  a  deep  longitudinal  groove  of  various  length ;  the  Tarsi 
lengthened ;  the  hind  Toe  totally  wanting,  or  small  and  elevated. 
The  first  Subfamily, 
(EDICNEMINiE,  or  Thick-knees, 
have  the  Bill  as  long  as,  or  longer  than,  the  head,  with  the  culmen  slightly  depressed  at  the  base  and 
swollen  at  the  tip,  and  the  gonys  more  or  less  angulated  ;  the  Tarsi  lengthened,  with  three  rather  short 
Toes  in  front. 
GEdicnemus  Temm.'f 
Bill  rather  longer  than  the  head,  the  culmen  straight,  with  the  apical  half  arched  and  curved  to  the 
tip,  the  sides  compressed,  and  the  gonys  nearly  half  the  length  of  the  bill,  angulated,  and  advancing 
upwards  to  the  tip ;  the  nostrils  in  a  subtriangular  membranous  groove,  with  the  aperture  longitudinal 
and  anterior.  Wings  of  moderate  length,  pointed  ;  with  the  first  quill  shorter  than  the  second,  which 
is  the  longest,  and  the  tertials  the  length  of  the  quills.  Tail  moderate  and  wedge-shaped.  Tarsi 
lengthened,  three  or  four  times  the  length  of  the  middle  toe,  and  covered  with  hexagonal  scales.  Toes 
short,  the  inner  shorter  than  the  outer,  and  both  united  to  the  middle  one  by  a  membrane  at  their  base, 
especially  the  outer ;  the  claws  short  and  slightly  curved. 
*  Or  the  Grallatores  of  Illiger. 
t  This  genus  was  established  by  M.  Temminck  in  (Manuel  d' Ornitltologie,  1st  edit.  p.  321.)  1815  ;  and  the  Fcdoa  of  Leach,  proposed 
in  1816",  is  coequal. 
