NATURAL HISTORY. 
65 
ROOM XII.] 
Plover ( Charadrius ), Lapwing ( Vanellus), Turnstone 
{Strepsilas), 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 
Godwit {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 {RalUdaz), 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 {Rallus), 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), Fidigulince, 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 
{Coly?nbus), 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 
