246 



AVES. 



stouter and proportionally less flexible than in the preceding, is used by them to turn over stone3 to 

 search for the worms that lie beneath them. [Its form is not unlike that of a Nuthatch's bill.] 



The two species doubtfully indicated by the author are merely the same in different states of plumage : it 

 is a bird of remarkably wide geographic range, and tolerably plentiful on the British coasts : its affinitv is rather 

 with the Oyster-catchers and Plovers]. 



The Gambets (Totanus, Cuv.) — 

 Have a slender, round, pointed, and solid beak, the nasal groove of which only extends half its length, 

 and the upper mandible is slightly arcuated towards the tip. Their form is slight, and legs elevated : 

 the thumb hardly touches the ground, and the palmation of their outer toe is well-marked. The 

 species are each found nearly all over the world, [or rather, there are many difficult of determination 

 apart, which has induced the latter opinion.] 



The Greenshank Gambet (Scot, glottis, Lin.).— As large as a [rather small] Godwit, with the beak comparatively 

 stout, [and a little recurved] ; ashy-brown above and on the sides, with the margins of the feathers punctated with 

 brown, the croup and belly white, and tail rayed with narrow irregular bars grey and white ; the feet preen : in 

 summer the throat and breast are spotted with dusky tears, which disappear after the breeding season. This is 

 the largest species of Gambet in Europe. [It breeds on the margins of lakes, including those of Britain, and 

 during the season of propagation is very clamorous, rising on the wing and spreading an alarm at the approach of 

 danger to all other birds within hearing : in winter it resorts to the sea-shore in small flocks, apparently the 

 amount of broods. The Greenshank is a characteristic example of a particular group, the members of which are 

 comparatively large, acquire more or less of a dusky colour on the under-parts towards the breeding season, and 

 agree in their general habits, mostly frequenting fresh-water lakes. An allied species of North America (Tot. semi- 

 palmatus) has the toes half-webbed, and has been known to occur in Europe as a straggler. The Dusky Gambet 

 (T. fuscus) is another European species, more delicately formed, with particularly slender beak and feet, and 

 beautifully barred tail and coverts, which becomes entirely suffused on the under-parts with fuliginous-black in 

 the spring, and is rare in Britain. A fourth (7'. calidrit), the Redshank Gambet, is very abundant in Britain, 

 breeding also not uncommonly in marshes near the sea-shore, and especially about the estuaries of rivers. 



Others acquire no colour on the under-parts in spring, and mostly breed in the marshes, where they trip across 

 the broad floating leaves of aquatic plants with grace and agility: such are, particularly, those with longer legs, 

 as the delicate Wood Gambet I /'. glareola), which is sometimes found in Britain, the T. stagnatalis, Bechst., of 

 eastern Europe, and T. cld< ropygius of North America : one more common in this country, with shorter legs, and 

 a conspicuous white rump as it flies, is the Green Gambet (T. ockropus), which conducts into the next minor group. 



The others, at least those of Europe, are still smaller, and familiarly known as Summer Snipes in England. One 

 very common may be termed the Common Gambet (7 1 . /11/poleucos), which in America is represented by a species 

 with a breast spotted like that of a Thrush (T. macularia). Another in Europe, still more diminutive (T. Tem- 

 mincMi or putilla), has been generally classed with the Sandpipers, but strictly appertains to the present group 

 both in structure and habits, being never found on the sea-shore, but frequenting inland waters like its true 

 congeners, all of which jerk the tail and nod the head frequently as they run about, and emit a clear whistling 

 note. There are many others in foreign parts.] 



The Lobefoot (Lobipes, Cuv.), — 

 Which we consider ought to be separated from the Phalaropes, which 

 it resembles in the lobation of its toes, is distinguished from them by 

 its bill, which is that of a Gambet. Such is 



The Red-necked Lobefoot (Tringa htiperborea, Lin.). — A little bird, grey 

 above, white below, tinted with rufous on the scapularies, and having a broad 

 red gorget round its white throat. Add the Phalaropus frenatus, Vieillot ; 

 or Holopodiiis [Wilsonii] of M. C. Bonaparte, [which is found in America 

 generally. The first-named species breeds in the northern isles of Scotland, 

 inhabiting marshy grounds, where it cannot be obtained without much diffi- 

 culty, though far from being timid in its disposition]. 



The Stilts (Himantopus, Brisson) — 

 Have a round beak, slender and pointed, even more so than in the 

 Gambets ; the grooves of the nostrils extending only half-way. But 

 what particularly distinguishes them, and has, given origin to their 

 name, is the inordinate length and slenderness of their legs, which 

 are reticulated and destitute of hind-toe, and the bones of which are 

 so feeble as to render walking painful to them. Fil>r . i^Z T he suit 



Ifcrt one sn^ies is known in Europe (Charadrius himantopus, Lin. ; [H. Plinii, Auct.j ; which is white, with a 

 black calotte and mantle, and long red legs. It is rather rare, and little is known of its manners. [The tatter 



