PLOVERS AND ALLIED SPECIES. 71 



breast. The males and females are generally similar, the 

 former always larger. The young in their first plumage 

 differ from the adult. 



Individuals of this family are found in all countries of the 

 globe. In Britain, one species or other may be seen in almost 

 every part, and at every season ; but in winter and spring 

 they chiefly frequent the sea-shore and the fields in its 

 vicinity, while in summer they are scattered over the 

 interior. 



SYNOPSIS OF TEE BRITISH GENERA AND SPECIES. 



GENUS I. CEDICNEMUS. THICK-KNEE. 



Bill rather longer than the head, stout, straight, depressed 

 at the base, compressed toward the end ; ridge of the upper 

 mandible prominent, straight to the middle, then slightly 

 arched and decimate, the tip rather acute ; gape-line straight., 

 commencing under the anterior angle of the eye ; nasal 

 sinuses large ; nostrils linear-oblong, medial, direct. Legs 

 long, slender ; tibio-tarsal joint large ; tarsus reticulate with 

 hexagonal scales ; toes three, short, with short basal webs ; 

 claws short, convex. Wings of moderate length, pointed ; 

 tail short. 



1. (Edicnemus crepitans. Stone Thick-knee. Bill pale- 

 yellow at the base, black at the end; feet yellow; head and 

 upper parts pale reddish-yellow, streaked with brown. 



GENUS II. PLUVIALIS. PLOVER. 



Bill nearly as long as the head, rather slender, straight, 

 compressed ; upper mandible with the dorsal line straight for 

 two-thirds, then bulging a little, or arcuate, at the end, the 

 tip narrow, but rather obtuse ; gape-line straight ; nasal 

 groove long and rather wide ; nostrils small, linear, sub-basal, 

 pervious. Legs of moderate length, very slender; tarsus 



