PLOVERS AND ALLIED SPECIES. 67 



long, or of moderate length ; long wings ; a rather short 

 neck, and a roundish head, which is always elevated and 

 rounded in front, like that of the Pigeons. 



The bill is generally about the length of the head, in 

 some cases longer, and frequently much shorter, straight or 

 very slightly recurvate, slender, tapering, compressed, blunt ; 

 the upper mandible with its outline straight and slightly 

 declinate for half or more of its length, then convex or 

 bulging towards the end, the nasal groove extending about 

 two-thirds of its length ; the lower mandible with the angle 

 moderately long and narrow, the dorsal outline ascending 

 and a little convex. Both mandibles are internally mode- 

 rately concave ; the posterior aperture of the nares is oblongo- 

 linear, margined with acute papilla? ; the palate soft with 

 conical papillae. The tongue is short or of moderate length, 

 fleshy, narrow, emarginate and papillate at the base, flattish 

 above, its tip entire. The mouth is extremely narrow : the 

 oesophagus narrow, of nearly uniform diameter; proventri- 

 culus oblong, with oblong glandules. The gizzard is large, 

 elliptical, compressed, its muscles very large and distinct ; 

 its cuticular coat tough, with prominent transverse ruga?. 

 The intestine is slender, of moderate length ; the cceca rather 

 long, and subcylindrical. 



The eyes are generally large and prominent ; the eyelids 

 densely feathered. The nostrils are sub-basal, lateral, linear, 

 of moderate length, in the long, bare, basal membrane. The 

 aperture of the ear is roundish, and of moderate size. 



The feet are long and slender ; the tibia bare at its lower 

 part ; the tarsus long or moderate, a little compressed, reticu- 

 lated or anteriorly scutellate ; the toes small and rather 

 short, flat beneath and marginate ; three before, spreading ; 

 the hind toe wanting, or very small and above the general 

 level. The claws are small, arched, compressed, slender, 

 blunted. 



Fig. 6. 



