96 
ROOM XIII. the Sanderlings differ merely in having three toes. 
Nat”Hist true ^ n *P es h ave the end of the beak sensible and 
spongy, and furnished with a central longitudinal 
groove: in others the nasal groove extends only half 
the length of the beak, as in the Longshanks, which 
have very long legs and three toes: the Avocets 
have the bill curved upwards and the feet half-webbed; 
whilst in the Chevaliers it is slender, rounded, and 
slightly recurved. Others have the base of the beak 
flexible, and the end hard and covered with a horny 
sheath, as the Plovers (Case 64) with three, and the 
Lapwing with four toes. The Turnstones 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 has a strong leg, and the beak, 
like the former, compressed on the sides. 
In Cases 65 —67 are the Bustards,—which in many 
respects are allied to the Gallinaceous birds,—the Plo¬ 
vers, the Courser, and the Pratincole. 
The family of Cranes (Cases 68 and 69) have a rather 
short hind toe, much higher on the leg than the front 
one, and a strong hard beak, which is rather long and 
oval. The Balearic Cranes have large open nostrils, 
naked cheeks, and throat-wattles. The Cariama and 
Trumpeters 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 Rails (Cases 70 and 71) which are the 
most aquatic of these birds, have many characters of 
the next order; their toes are long and slender, and 
the hind one is placed on a level with the others. The 
Jacana has the claws long and straight, and the bend 
of the wing armed with a spine; the Screamers are re¬ 
markable for the horn on the centre of the head. Others, 
as the Coot, have short claws and unarmed wings, and 
the edge of the toes fringed with a lobed membrane ; 
the Gallinules, Taleves, and Rails, have the toes simple. 
The Water Birds have their feet placed on the hinder 
part of the body, with short compressed tarsi, and the 
toes 
