THE BIRDS OP NORTH AMERICA. 85 



Family 17. — Plataleidce. Spoonbills ; 1 species. 



Family 18. — Ibididce. Ibises ; 4 species. 



Family IQ.—Ciconiida;. Stoi-Ics and Wood Ibises; 2 



species. 

 Family 20. — Ardeidce. Herons, Bitterns, etc.; 15 



species. 



ORDER VIII.— PALiUDICOL^ (CRANES, RAILS, ETC.). 



Toes four; middle toe without a comb, generally not 

 webbed ; liind toe generally small, higher than front 

 ones, or when ou the same level (Galliuules and Coots 

 only), the bill is comparatively short and stout, and the 

 forehead has a bare shield ; lores feathered, or with hair- 

 like bristles (Cranes). 



Family 21. —Gruidoi. Cranes ; 3 species. 

 Family 22. — Aramidoe. Courlans ; 1 species. 

 Family 2S.—Iiallidce. Rails, Gallinules, and Coots ; 

 17 species. 



ORDER IX,— LIMICOL^ (SHORE BIRDS). 



Toes four or three ; the hind toe, when present, less than 

 half the length of the inner one, and always elevated 

 above the others ; legs generally long and slender, the 

 lower half of the tibiae bare : bill, in the true Snipe, gener- 

 ally long, slender, and soft, the nostrils opening through 

 slits or grooves ; wings long and pointed, the first primary 

 generally the largest. 



Family 24. — Plialaropodidoe. Phalaropes; 3 species. 

 Family 25. — Recur virostridce. Avocets and Stilts; 2 



species. 

 Family 26. — Scolopacidoe. Snipes and Sandpipers ; 43 

 species. 

 . Family 27. — Charadriidce. Plovers; 13 species. 

 Family 28. — ApJu^izidoe. Surf Birds and Turnstones; 



3 species. 

 Family 29. — Hoematopodidoe. Oyster-catchers; 4 spe- 

 cies. 

 Family 30. — JacanidcB. Jacanas; 1 species. 



