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a. & n. from Wade, v. Wading bird. (Zoöl.) See Wader, 2.

A wading bird of the genus Botaurus, allied to the herons, of various species.

A wading bird (Cancroma cochlearia) of the tropical parts of South America. Its bill is somewhat like a boat with the keel uppermost.

A wading bird with lobate toes, of the genus Fulica. The common European or bald coot is F. atra (see under bald); the American is F. Americana.

A wading bird of the genus Grus, and allied genera, of various species, having a long, straight bill, and long legs and neck.

A tribe of wading birds including the stork, heron, crane, etc.

A wading bird of the genus Numenius, remarkable for its long, slender, curved bill.

ne bones united; -- applied to a group of carinate birds (Desmognathæ), including various wading and swimming birds, as the ducks and herons, and also raptorial and other kinds.

A place in a river, or other water, where it may passed by man or beast on foot, by wading. He swam the Esk river where ford there was none. Sir W. Scott.

One of several wading birds, having long, webless toes, and a frontal shield, belonging to the family Rallidae. They are remarkable for running rapidly over marshes and on floating plants. The purple gallinule of America is Ionornis Martinica, that of the Old World is Porphyrio porphyrio. The common European gallinule…

shot for food, esp. grouse, partridges, quails, pheasants, wild turkeys, and the shore or wading birds, such as plovers, snipe, woodcock, curlew, and sandpipers. The term is sometimes arbitrarily restricted to birds hunted by sportsmen, with dogs and guns. -- Game egg, an egg producing a gamecock. -- Game laws, laws…

One of several species of long-billed, wading birds of the genus Limosa, and family Tringidæ. The European black-tailed godwit (Limosa limosa), the American marbled godwit (L. fedoa), the Hudsonian godwit (L. hæmastica), and others, are valued as game birds. Called also godwin.

A division of wading birds, including the herons, storks, and allied forms. Called also Herodii. -- He*ro`di*o"nine, a.

Any wading bird of the genus Ardea and allied genera, of the family Ardeidæ. The herons have a long, sharp bill, and long legs and toes, with the claw of the middle toe toothed. The common European heron (Ardea cinerea) is remarkable for its directly ascending flight, and was formerly hunted with the larger falcons.…

æ, inhabiting both the Old World and the New. Numerous species are known. They are large, wading birds, having a long, curved beak, and feed largely on reptiles.

One of several large wading birds of the genera Mycteria and Xenorhynchus, allied to the storks in form and habits.

Any of several wading birds belonging to the genus Jacana and several allied genera, all of which have spurs on the wings. They are able to run about over floating water weeds by means of their very long, spreading toes. Called also surgeon bird.

Either one of two species of wading birds of the genus Aramus, intermediate between the cranes and rails. The limpkins are remarkable for the great length of the toes. One species (A. giganteus) inhabits Florida and the West Indies; the other (A. scolopaceus) is found in South America. Called also courlan, and crying b…

One of a group of wading birds (Macrodactyli) having very long toes. [Written also macrodactyle.]

n for market. See lst Scalp, n. -- Oyster catcher (Zoöl.), any one of several species of wading birds of the genus Hæmatopus, which frequent seashores and feed upon shellfish. The European species (H. ostralegus), the common American species (H. palliatus), and the California, or black, oyster catcher (H. Bachmani) ar…