368 AVES. 



CharadriuSj Lin.(l) 



The Plovers have no thumb; the beak is moderate, compressed, and 

 enlarged at the point. 



They may be divided into two subgenera; viz. 



CEdicnemus, Tern. (2) 



In which the end of the beak is inflated above as well as beneath, 

 and the fosss of the nostrils only extend half its length. They are 

 larger species which prefer dry and stony places, and feed on snails, 

 insects, 8cc. They have some affinity with the smaller species of 

 Bustards. Their feet are reticulated, and there is a short membrane 

 between each of their three toes. 



CEdic. crepitans, Tem.; Charadriics oedicnemus,!..', Courlis de 

 terre; Enl. 919; Frisch, 215; Naum. Ed. I, 9, f. 13. (The Thick- 

 knee.) Size of a Woodcock; afawn coloured grey, with a brown 

 streak on the middle of each feather; white belly; a brown 

 streak under the eye.(3) 



Charadrius, Cuv. 



The beak of the True Plovers is only inflated above, and has two- 

 thirds of its length occupied by the nasal fossae, which render it 

 weaker. They live in large flocks, and frequent low grounds, where 

 they strike the earth with their feet, in order to set in motion the 

 worms on which they feed. 



The species of France are only found there, in transitu, during 

 the autumn and in the spring: near the sea coast, some of them 

 remain until the beginning of winter. Their flesh is excellent, 

 and with various other species, they form a tribe with reticulated 

 legs, the most remarkable of which are: 



Char, pluvialis, L., Enl. 904; Frisch, 216; Naum. I, c. 10, f. 



Syn. II, pi. Ixxix; the benghalensis, Edw. 250; the Jrabs, Id. 12; but I with- 

 draw the (Edimemus, which, on account of its compressed beak, enlarged at the 

 end, begins the following- genus. Add, Otis nuba, Rupp. pi. 1; Ot. denhami; 

 Of. tffrquata, Cuv., a new species from the Cape. 



(1) Charadrius, the Greek name of a nocturnal aquatic bird, comes from ;tg*- 

 <fga. Gaza translates it by Hiaticula. 



(2) CEdicnemus (swelled leg), a name invented by Belon for the Thick-knee. 



(3) Add the (Edicneme tachurd {(Ed. maculosus, Cuv.) Col. 292; the (Ed. d 

 longs picds {(Ed. longipes, Geofi:,) Vieill. Gal. 228, or (Ed. cchasse, Tem. Col. 

 386; the (Ed. a govs bee ( (Ed. magnirostris, Geoff. ), Col. 387, might, from the form 

 of its beak, be placed at the head of a particular series to which would belong a 

 closely allied species with a slightly recurved upper mandible: (Ed. recurvirostris, 

 Gnv.: Char. crassirosiris, Spix, 94. 



