Ixxvi 
INTRODUCTION. 
webs as soft as the inner, fourth and fifth the longest, first nearly as long as the second ; a short compressed claw 
at the end of the thumb. Tail very short and soft, hidden by the coverts. Tarsi moderate, shorter than the middle 
toe, flattened in front, and covered with transverse scales. Toes long and slender, inner nearly as long as the 
outer ; hind toe short, very slender, and placed on the inner side of the tarsus ; claws short, compressed, blunt. 
Note. This genus was established by Professor Hutton for the reception of a small form of flightless Rail, 
which he had previously described under the name of Rallus modestus. In my former editiou I treated the bird as 
the young of Rallus dieffenbachii, an extremely rare form of Rail from the Chatham Islands, which Mr. G. R. Gray 
had originally placed in the genus Ocydromus. It has been clearly shown that Cabalus modestus has Ocydromine 
characters in its skeleton, and, whether an adult bird or not, it is undoubtedly right to separate it generically from 
Rallus. 
Mr. Sharpe, in treating of Cabalus dieffenbachii (App. Voy. Ereb. & Terr. p. 29), says In his latest article 
on the ‘ Birds of New Zealand/ Dr. Finsch believes in Rallus modestus of Hutton being a distinct species from 
R. dieffenbachii. I examined the type of Captain Hutton's species, and thoroughly believe it to be the young of 
the latter Rail. Perhaps Captain Hutton is right in referring this Rail to a genus or subgenus intermediate 
between Rallus and Ocydromus , and 1 have therefore, for the present, adopted his genus Cabalus .” 
Order HERODIONES. 
Family ARDEIDiE. Heroxs. 
Genus ARDEA, Linn. Most parts of the World. 
Gen. char. Bill lengthened and more or less slender, with the culmen nearly straight to the tip, which is 
acute and emarginated, the sides compressed, and the lateral margins straight and sometimes serrated ; the gonys 
moderate and ascending ; the nostrils lateral, basal, and placed in a groove, which extends for more than half the 
length ot the bill, with the opening linear, and closed by a membranous scale. Wings long, with the first quill 
nearly as long as the second and third, which are equal and longest. Tail rather short and even. Tarsi longer 
than, or as long as, the middle toe, rather slender, and covered in front with transverse scales, those near the toes 
large and of a hexagonal form. Toes long and rather slender ; the outer toe longer than the inner, and united at 
the base; the hind toe long ■ the claws moderate, slight, curved, and acute. 
Genus NYCTICORAX, Stephens. Most parts of the World. 
Gen. char. Bill lather longer than the head, strong, with the culmen gradually curved, and the sides com- 
piesscd to the tip, which is emarginated; the gonys long and ascending; the nostrils lateral and placed in a groove, 
with the opening linear and closed by a membranous scale. Wings long, with the first quill shorter than the 
second and third, which are equal and longest. Tail short and even. Tarsi as long as the middle toe, rather 
strong, and covered with large irregular scales. Toes long, rather slender ; the outer toe longer than the inner, 
both united at their base, especially the former ; the hind toe long, rather slender, and on the same plane with the 
others ; the claws moderate, curved, and acute. 
Genus BOTAURUS, Stephens. All parts of the World. 
Gen. char. Bill long and straight, with the culmen straight, flattened at the base, and rounded and curved 
to the tip, which is strongly emarginated, and the sides compressed ; the gonys short and ascending ; the nostrils 
basal, and placed in a deep groove that extends for two thirds of the length of the bill, with the opening linear. 
Wings long, with the three first quills equal and longest. Tail short and even. Tarsi as long as the middle toe, 
rather strong, and covered in front with broad transverse scales. Toes very long and rather slender; the claws 
very long, slightly curved, and very acute. 
