100 NATURAL HISTORY. [EAST. ZOOL 
and the head, from the cere and the position and form of 
its nostrils* is most nearly allied to the Vultures; so 
that if these remains really belonged to one species* and 
that the one here represented* its true place in the series 
of birds* is not* as yet* satisfactorily determined. 
The other Wading Birds have long wings* and fly 
well; many of them make periodical migrations* and are 
thus distributed over great part of the globe; they usually, 
extend their legs behind them when they fly. 
The family of Bustards (Otidce, Cases 110—114) have 
the strong legs and small feet of the ostrich, but the wings 
are longer* and they have sometimes a small hind toe. The 
base of the beak is flexible* and the end hard and co¬ 
vered with a horny sheath* as the Bustard ( Otis )* the 
Plovers ( Charadrius )* which have three* and the Lapwing 
( Vanellus), which has four toes; the Turnstones (Strepsilas) 
differ from the Lapwings by the end of the beak being 
compressed* so as to enable them to find their food under 
stones. The Oyster-catcher ( Hcematopus ) has strong 
legs, and the beak, like the former* compressed on the sides. 
The family of Cranes (Gruidce, Cases 115—117) have a 
rather short hind toe* much higher on the leg than the front 
ones* and a strong* hard, rather long beak, with the nostrils 
in the front of a broad groove. The Balearic Cranes ( Ba - 
learica ) have large open nostrils* naked cheeks* and throat- 
wattles. The Cariama ( Cariama ) and Trumpeters (Pso- 
phia) have short beaks: the former has much the air of a 
raptorial bird* and the latter is peculiar for the metallic 
brilliancy of its plumage. 
The family of Herons ( Ardeidce * Cases 117—126) 
have a hard elongated bill* and linear nostrils* covered 
with a thin skin* situated at the base of an indistinct* 
narrow groove. In some the hind toe is low down* and 
the middle claw toothed on the edge; as in the genera 
Heron ( Ardea )* Night Heron ( Nycticorax )* and Crab- 
eater ( Tigrisoma *) which only differ from each other by the 
size of the beak. The Storks ( Ciconia * Cases 124—125) 
have larger and more exposed nostrils than the Herons* 
the hind toe is placed rather higher* and the middle claw 
entire. The form and size of the bill vary greatly in the 
birds of this family. In the Adjutants ( Leptoptilos ) it is 
large* and furnished with a sort of throat-pouch; in the 
