NATURAL HISTORY. 
65 
ROOM XII.] 
Plover ( Charadrius), Lapwing ( Vanellus), Turnstone 
(Sti'epsilas) , Sanderling ( Calidris), and Oyster-catcher 
( Hcematopus ). 
The Herons (Ardeidce), Cases Nos. 18 and 19, have the 
bill and legs long, and the hind toes, which are also elon¬ 
gated, are placed nearly on a level with the others. They 
are the largest birds of this order ; as the Heron ( Ardea ), 
the Stork ( Ciconia ), the Spoonbill ( Platalea ), and the 
Ibis (Ibis). 
Cases Nos. 20 and 21. The Snipes ( Scolopacidce ), are 
small birds, with long slender bills, and an elevated hind 
toe. They generally live in marshy places, or on the sea¬ 
shore and feed on worms; as the Curlew ( Numenius), 
Sandpiper ( Totanus ), the Avocet ( Recurvirostra ), the 
God wit (Totanus), the Snipe (Scolopax), Case No. 22, the 
Dunlin (Tringa), the Lobe Foot (Lobipes), Cases Nos. 23 
and 24, and the Phalarope ( Phalaropus). 
The Rails (Rallidce), are known by their shorter legs 
and long toes, often fringed on the sides, and by the com¬ 
pressed form of their body; as the Pratincole ( Glareola), 
Rail (Rallies), Corn Crake (Crex), Gallinule, or Water Hen 
( Gallinula ), and the Coot (Fulica). 
The last order, or Natatorial Birds (Natatores), have 
short legs placed on the hinder part of the body, and the 
toes united by a web. It includes several families; viz. the 
family of Ducks (Anatidce), Cases No. 25—31, which have 
the edge of the jaws furnished with a series of plates, 
through which they filter the water, and thus separate their 
food; as the Anserince, viz. Goose ( Anser ), Swan ( Cyg - 
nus), Anatince , viz. Shieldrake (Tadorna), Duck (Anas), 
Widgeon ( Mareca ), Fuligulince, viz. Eider Duck ( Soma - 
teria), Scoter (Oidemia), Pochard ( Fuligula ), Garrot 
(Clangula ), Hareld (Harelda), Cases Nos. 32—34, and 
Merganser (Merganince), as the genus Mergus . 
The Divers (Colymbidce), have the legs set very far back, 
the bills compressed, and the hind toes free ; as the Grebes 
(Podiceps), which have a silky plumage, and the toes se¬ 
parated from each other by a deep notch; and the Divers 
(Colymbus), with the toes entirely webbed. 
The Auks (Alcidce), Case No. *34, have, like the Divers, 
very short wings, and the legs placed far behind the centre 
of the body, which enables them to stand nearly erect, but 
