of the United States . 
309 
Female similar to the male. Young but little distinguished 
from the parents. Moult annually. 
Solitary : quiet : shy. Live in arid, desert plains, care- 
fully concealed, and starting rapidly to a great elevation, as 
soon as aware of being discovered. Alight on trees : walk 
with great agility, moving the tail when frightened. Feed 
prineipaliy on frogs and insects. Build in the grass. Voice 
loud, shrdL 
Peculiar to the warmer parts of America. Composed of 
but ojie well ascertained species. Almost intermediate be- 
tween Ardea and Numenius : closely related to Rallus. (Fami- 
ly Macrodactyli) with which it has been classed by Illiger and 
myself. 
237. Aramus scolopaceus, Vieill. Brown, glossed with green; 
feathers longitudinally white in the middle ; rump, quills, and 
tail feathers, immaculate. 
Scolopaceous Courlan, Aramus scolopaceus , JYoh. Am* 
Orn. in. 
Inhabits Florida, and other warm parts of America : visits 
occasionally the shores of the middle states. Common in 
the island of Cuba. 
FAMILY XIX. FALCATL 
Filcati , III . Falcirostres , Vieill . Ranz. 
Cultrirostres , Longirostres , Cuv. Latr. Ardeidce, Vigors . 
Bill very long, stout at base, subulate, falcate, cylindri- 
cal at lip; edges much bent in, sharp. Face naked ; throat 
dilatable. Neck elongated. Feet elongated, 4-toed ; naked 
space of the tibia extensive ; tarsus reticulated ; toes elonga- 
ted, bordered with a narrow membrane, connecting the fore 
toes at base ; hind toe articulated with the tarsus low r 
down, half as long as the middle one, bearing almost its whole 
length on the ground. Wings moderate, obtuse, tubercula- 
ted. Tail short, of twelve feathers. 
Vol. 11. 39 
