130 
Table XXIII. (See vol. i., p. 21.) 
Order 5. Waders. Tribe 2. Cultrirostres, ( Cutting 
Beaks,) so called from the Latin words, culler , a knife, 
and rostrum , a beak. 
This tribe contains the Herons, Cranes, &c., known 
by their thick, long, and strong cutting bills. The 
first genus consists of the Herons, properly so called, 
which differs from the others chiefly in the middle 
toe being toothed or pectinated, and in haying their 
SERRATED CLAW OF THE HERON. 
beaks cleft under the eyes. In other respects, they 
in so many points resemble the second and third 
genus, namely, Storks and Cranes, that they may be 
all looked upon as forming one family. With the 
Heron, however, we are most familiar, as he alone 
stays with us all the year round ; and he may be 
often seen standing like a grey statue, motionless 
on one leg, up to his knees in water, in some re- 
tired spot, watching for fish, the very picture of 
patience. Impatient would he nevertheless be, if 
long unsuccessful, for he has a most prodigious 
appetite, destroying an inconceivable number of fish, 
which are digested almost as soon as swallowed. 
The powers of its stomach are indeed very great, 
surpassing those of most other birds ; Owls, Crows, 
and Kingfishers, we know are unable to digest the 
harder portions of their food, such as bones, &c., 
