ORDKR 



GRALLiE. 



Rostrum diver sum. 



Pedes tetradactyli^ aut mediocres aut longi, validi vel tenues ; 

 FEMORA supra genua plus minusve denudata ; tarsi rotundati, 

 nudi reticulati ; digiti Jissi aut basi membrana connexi ; pollex 

 aut ^ terr<t elevatusy aut ^pice solo insistens, vel humi in^ 

 cumbens. 



Beak various. 



Feet four-toed, moderate, or long, strong, or slender j the 

 thighs more or less naked above the knee; tarsi rounded, 

 naked, and reticulated ; toes cleft, or connected at the base by 

 a membrane j the hinder one either elevated from the ground, 

 the tip alone, or the whole resting thereon. 



These birds run about on the sea shores, and the 

 borders of lakes and rivers : they subsist upon anne- 

 leides, and small fishes and their fry, reptiles, and 

 aquatic insects, the Cranes excepted, which live on 

 beetles, larvas, and seeds : they live in pairs, but 

 during their migrations, which take place regularly 

 in these climates, to the south of Europe and the 

 shores of the Mediterranean, they associate in 

 flocks. In many of the genera the species moult and 

 change their plumage regularly twice a year j in 

 others they always retain the same plumage, un- 

 dergoing the proper moult. The division of this 

 and the preceding order is not so natural as 

 could be wished, the Squatarolae approaching 

 very closely to the Charadrii, and the Vanelli 

 materially receding from the birds of the other 

 genera. 



