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ORDER XVI. AUCUPATRICES. 
STALKERS. 
Birds of large or moderate size, having the body much 
compressed and light ; the neck very long and slender ; 
the head oblong, compressed, and flattened above ; the 
bill large, generally conical, but varying considerably in 
form ; the legs long ; the tibia bare to a large extent ; 
the tarsus scutellate ; the toes four, the hind toe large* 
and on the same plane with the rest. The wings are 
large and broad ; the tail short. They live on fishes, 
Crustacea, reptiles, and other aquatic animals, swallowing 
their food entire ; frequent the shores of the sea, estua- 
ries, rivers, lakes, and marshes ; have a light or buoyant, 
but slow flight ; walk in a sedate and graceful manner ; 
form a very large, generally flat nest, which they place 
on the ground or on trees ; and lay few, from two to five 
elliptical light-coloured eggs. The young, at first scan- 
tily covered with down, remain in the nest until fledged* 
In this order are two distinct groups, the Ardeinse 
and Tantalinse ; the former very distinct from all the 
other Grallatorial groups ; but the latter passing into 
the Tringinse, some of them being little distinguishable 
from Curlews. 
FAMILY XXXIX. ARDEIhLE. ARDEINE 
BIRDS, OR HERONS. 
Birds generally of large size, having the body high, 
but much compressed ; the neck long, generally slender ; 
