340 



PR^COCIAL GKALLATORES — LDIICOL.E. 



Family EECUEVIEOSTRTDzE. — The Avocets and Stilts. 



The Becurvirostridcc, in addition to the features already mentioned (see p. 108), 

 are characterized by the excessive length of the legs, with very long slender neck 

 and subulate, elongated Ijill. The plumage has the same dense, soft character as 

 that of the Phalaropodiclcc, Fidicinm, and Longipennes. 



The three known genera, only two of which occur in America, differ as follows : — 



A. Iliinl toe present. 



1. Recur virostra. Auteiior toes ah webbed ; bill recurved. 



B. Hind toe wanting. 



•2. Cladorhynchus.i Toe.s all webbed ; bill perfectly straight, excessively depressed ; tarsus 



luU little it' any longer than bill. 

 3. Himautopus. No web between inner and middle toes, and web between outer and 



middle toes quite small ; bill very slightly recurved from the middle, cylindrical or 



scarcely depressed ; tarsus much longer than the bill. 



Genus RECURVIROSTRA, Linn^us. 



liccurvirostra, LiNX. Syst. Nat. ed. 10, I. 1758, 151 (type R. avocetta, L.). 



Char. Hind toe rudimentary, but distinct ; anterior toes united to the claws by a much 

 emarginated membrane. Bill depressed, decidedly recurved, extended into a fine point, which is 

 shghtly decurved. Tail covered by the wings. 



R. americana. 



The species of Avocet are few in number, there being one peculiar to North America, South 

 America., Australia, and Europe, respectively. The two American species may be distinguished 

 as follows : — 



1 Gladorhynchus, G. R. Gray, Gen. B. III. 1840, 577, pi. 155, fig. 1 (type, Leptorhynchus pcctoralis, 

 Du Bus). 



