266 
YERTEBRATA. 
ORDER 7. GRALLATOEES. 
In the Grallatores the feet are always formed for walking in the water ; they are usually of great 
length, but the toes are never united by a membrane, in the same way as in the swimming birds. 
They are, however, sometimes surrounded by membraneous iobes, and in many cases furnished 
with a small web at the base. The great length of the legs is generally due to the elongation of 
the tarsi ; but the tibiae are also frequently A'^cry long, and generally bare of feathers for a greater 
or less extent. The naked portion of the tibise is covered with a reticulated skin, like that of the 
tarsi and toes; but in many cases the latter are more or less covered with horny plates or scutella. 
The toes are usually four in number — three in front and one behind ; the latter varies greatly in 
its development, being sometimes very small, and sometimes even longer than the others ; it is 
placed either on the same level with the anterior toes, or raised more or less upon the back of the 
tarsus. The anterior toes are usually elongated, and the two outer ones are often united together 
for a certain portion of their length. 
The great length of the legs in the majority of these birds enables them to wade with facility 
in shallow water in search of the fish and other aquatic animals upon which they feed ; hence 
the name of Grallatores or Wadeis applied to the order. In many cases, however, this does not 
apply ; for the legs of several sjDecies are too short to be of any use to them in wading ; while 
other species, in which the legs are much elongated, are inhabitants of dry situations, and are 
never found in the vicinity of water. Some species run upon the surface of floating aquatic plants, 
and others swim and dive with greater facility than many of the true Natatorial birds. They are 
all active birds, running Avith great swiftness, and usually possessing great power of flight. 
The development of the neck keeps pace with that of the legs, and in most cases the beak also 
is of considerable length. The latter organ is almost always longer than the head, usually of an 
elongated conical form, sometimes almost cylindrical, and occasionally flattened and more or less 
dilated. The tongue is fleshy and usually triangular. 
The wings' are well developed, often of great size, and the birds are almost always powerful 
fliers, although many of them, when disturbed, appear to prefer trusting to their long legs to be- 
taking themselves to the air. The plumage is soft, and bears a certain resemblance to that of the 
Natatorial birds, but the feathers are generally furnished with a distinct plumule. 
The habits of these birds vary considerably. Most of them inhabit the vicinity of water or 
marshy places, where they wade about in search of aquatic animals, or walk upon the moist 
