394 AYES. 



Totanus, and the nasal grooves occupy bnt half its length. The ex- 

 cessive length and tenuity of the legs which are reticulated and des- 

 titute of a thumb, and the weakness of their bones, which is so ex- 

 treme as to render walking painful to them, are what principally 

 distinguish the species of this subgenus, and give rise to their 

 name. 



One species only is known in Europe, Charndrius Inmanlojms, 

 L., Enl. 878, which is white, with a black calotte and mantle, 

 and long red feet; it is a rare bird v/hose habits are but im- 

 perfectly known.(l) 

 This is perhaps the only place for the 



Recurvirostra, Lin. 



Or the Avosets, although their feet, which are webbed to near the 

 ends of the toes, almost entitle them to a situation among the Pal- 

 mipedes; but their high tarsi and half naked legs, their long, slen- 

 der, pointed, smooth, and elastic bill, together with the mode of life 

 resulting from this conformation, equally approximate them to the 

 Snipes. What particularly characterizes, and even distinguishes 

 them from all other birds, is the strong upward curve of their beak. 

 Their legs are reticulated, and their thumb much too short to reach 

 the ground. 



The European species, Eecurv, avocetta, L., Enl. 353, is 

 white; a black calotte and three bands on the wing of the same 

 hue; feet, lead-coloured; it is a pretty bird of a graceful form, 

 found in winter on the sea shore. The American species, R. 

 americana, Wils. VII, Ixiii, 2; Leach, Zool. Misc., pi. 101, 

 differs from it in a red hood. 



The coasts of the Indian seas produce a third which is white, 

 with black wings and red feet, the R. orientalis, Cuv.(2) 



FAMILY V. 



MACRODACTYLT. 



This family is furnished with very long toes, fitted for walk- 

 ing on the grass of marshes, and even for swimming, in those 

 numerous species especially, in which they are bordered with 

 a membrane. There are no membranes, however, between 



(1) Add, Him. nigrlcolUs, Wils. VH, pi. Iviii, 2, and Vieill. Gal. pi. 229. 



(2) Vieillothas changed this name into Recurvir. kucoceplialu. Gal. pi. 272. 



