62 
TENTATHICES. 
drical, generally flexible and elastic. Tongue slender, 
sagittate and papillate at the base, triangular, tapering 
to a point ; on the roof of the mouth two rows of papillae 
directed backwards ; oesophagus narrow ; proventriculus 
oblong or bulbiform ; stomach oblong, elliptical or round- 
ish, always with strong lateral muscles, large tendi- 
nous spaces, and dense, hard, longitudinally rugous epi- 
thelium ; intestine of moderate length, rather narrow ; 
coeca rather long, cylindrical or oblong ; cloaca oblong. 
Nostrils linear, subbasal, direct. Eyes small. Aperture , 
of ear moderate. Legs long or moderate, slender ; tibia i 
bare to a great extent, but in a few instances feathered 
to the joint ; tarsus slender, generally scutellate ; toes of I 
moderate length, slender, the anterior webbed at the base, 
the hind toe very small and elevated, sometimes wanting ; 
claws small, compressed, arched, rather acute. Plumage i 
generally soft and blended, on the upper parts somewhat 
compact ; the feathers oblong or ovate, with a rather large 
downy plumule ; wings long, of moderate breadth, acute ; 
the first quill generally longest ; some of the inner secon- 
daries much elongated, narrow, and tapering ; tail short 
or moderate, of twelve or more feathers, and varying in 
form. 
Birds of this order occur in all countries, and in Bri- f 
tain are numerous. They frequent marshes, the margins 
of lakes and rivers, and the shores of the sea. Their 
food consists of worms, testaceous mollusca, and insects, 
along with which a quantity of sand is swallowed, their 
stomach being a true gizzard. They generally run with 
great speed, have a rapid flight, emit shrill cries, wade 
in the water, and procure their food by probing the mud 
or sand. Most of them are extremely shy and vigilant. 
They nestle on the ground, laying four pyriform spotted 
