ORDERS. 
15 
have the longest, the straightest, as well as the most 
curved bills. The sandpipers, the curlews, the ibis 
and many other well-known waders, may be cited to 
lUustrate this position ; and we see, among the hum- 
ming birds, representations of aU these forms of bills 
The eyes are placed far back on the head, just as in the 
gUriforra quadrupeds; witness the woodcock and the 
hare. The waders, in general, are the swiftest runners, 
and their flight is equally rapid, yielding only to the 
swaUows. We are now, of course, looking only to those 
lamih^es which are eminently typical of the order; for 
m others these characters are either much diminished 
or do not all exist. Thus, the herons and cranes walk 
slowly and fly heavily ; many of the plovers are seldom 
5 found on the sea shore, and 
oca. DiiUiCj ttUU 
have no web to their toes : the 
rails(yi^. 5.)have remarkably 
short wings, large but not 
high legs, and confine them 
to fresh water; while the 
■"®hbed feet, walk 
hadly, but swim dexter- 
ously. These deviations, which at first might be thought 
inconsistent with the alleged distinctions of the order, 
are, nevertheless, absolutely necessary to make it natural! 
hey indicate analogies, which, did they not exist, 
would at once show that the group was artificial. 
( 19 .) V. We now come to the last order, that of Ra- 
soKEs, wherein are contained the whole of the Gallimcea, 
or towls ; the chief characteristic of which is the great 
size and steength of their legs, and the proportionate 
hortness of their wings. We at once perceive how well 
this structure is adapted for birds which, from living 
upon the ground, have little occasion for flight. The 
instruction of their feet is somewhat similar to what 
e see among the Insessores, but with this remarkable 
instead of being upon the 
others, is situated higher up, and above 
® 06 \fig- 2. c) : the bill, in opposition to that of the 
