492 Mr. N. A. Vicors on the Natural Affinities 
Recurvirostra of Linnzus appears to come naturally among these 
groups, and to be intermediate between Totanus and Limosa; with 
the former of these it is connected by the structure of the foot, 
the Totanus semipalmatus of M.'l'emminck almost immediately 
meeting it ; while with some species of the latter it is equally asso- 
ciated by the turned-up bill. The latter genus, Limosa, unites 
itself to the true Scolopar, Auct., by the flexible nature of its bill ; 
a character which prevails through the remaining groups of the 
family. Scolopax leads to Tringa, Linn., through the medium of 
Rhynchea, Cuv., which approaches the whole of the latter genus 
by its shorter bill, and agrees in particular with some species of 
it which have that member feebly curved, by the slight curvature 
observable at the extremity of its own. Among the groups which 
originally composed the Tringa of Linnæus, the Phalaropus of 
M. Brisson may be distinguished, which, by its lobated feet and 
habits of swimming, stands at the extremity of the present groups, 
and leads the way to the succeeding family of Rallide. The 
present family is united at its extremes, and the circular succes- 
sion of affinities between its various groups is preserved, by 
means of some species of Tringa, whose curved bills lead back 
to Numenius, from which we started. The Tringa platyrhyncha 
of M. Temminck, the same as the Numenius pygmaus of the 
** Index Ornithologicus," completes the circle. 
The family of Rallide, composed of the Linnean genus Parra, 
with its congeners Palamedea, Linn., and Chauna, Ill., together 
with Rallus, Linn., and Fulica, Linn.*, corresponds with the 
Macrodactyles of M. Cuvier. These groups are distinguished 
from the last family by their stronger bill and the greater length 
of the hind toe. They are also separated from the other birds 
of the order, and united among themselves by the shape of their 
* I conjecture that ‘Chionis, Forst. comes into this family; but I know too little of 
the group to speak with any confidence. 
body, 
