122 BIRDS. 



FAMILY LIL ILEMATOPODID^E. 



(The Turnstones.) 



Bill hard, acute, or truncate; nasal fossae short, broad, 

 and shallow. Legs short, stout, brightly colored. Genera 

 two, not much alike; species six or eight; in most parts 

 of the world. 



* Toes 3, webbed at base ; tarsus reticulate, shorter than the trun- 



cate, compressed, almost woodpecker-like bill. 



H^MATOPUS, 1. 



** Toes 4, not webbed ; tarsus scutellate in front, as long as the 

 sharp, pointed bill. ..... STREPSILAS, 2. 



/. H/EMA TO PUS, Linnasus. OYSTER CATCHERS. 



1. H. palliatus, Temminck. OYSTER CATCHER. Ashy 

 brown and blackish, mostly white below; L. 18; W. 10; 

 T. 4|; B. 3. Coasts. 



2. STREPS I LAS, Linnaeus. TURNSTONES. 



1. S. interpres, (L.) Illiger. TURNSTONE. Variegated; 

 black, white, brown, and chestnut above; mostly white 

 below; no reddish in winter; L. 8; W. 6; T. 2. 

 Cosmopolitan; abundant. 



FAMILY LIII. RECURVIROSTRID^E. 



(The Avocets.) 



Legs excessively long. Bill very slender, long, acute, 

 often recurved. Genera three, species eight; in most 

 parts of the world, flimantopus is said to have the 

 longest legs relatively of any bird. 



* Toes 4, full webbed ; bill recurved, flattened, tapering to a needle- 



like point ; plumage beneath thickened as in ducks ; swim- 

 mers RECUIIVIROSTRA, 1. 



** Toes 3, semipalmate ; bill nearly straight, not flattened. 



HIMANTOPUS, 2. 



