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PLUYIALIN^E. 



PLOVERS AND ALLIED SPECIES. 



The birds of which this family is composed have a mani- 

 fest mutual resemblance, but with differences sufficient to 

 indicate generic distinctions, such as may in most instances 

 be readily appreciated. (Edicnemus appears to lead directly 

 from Otis of the preceding family, which is allied, on the 

 one hand, to the Perdicina?, and on the other to the Struthi- 

 onina?, or Ostriches. Most of the species are three-toed, and 

 when a hind toe exists, it is always diminutive, and elevated 

 above the level of the rest. Vanellus has a hind toe, and a 

 broader form of wing, but otherwise is very similar to Pluvia- 

 lis, one of the species of which, having also a hind toe, has 

 been separated to form a genus to which Cuvier has given 

 the name of Squatarola. Other Plovers constitute the 

 genera Eudromias, Dotterel, and Hiaticula, Ping-Plover, 

 more distinguishable by differences in the mode of colouring 

 than by any structural character. The genus Charadrius of 

 Linnaeus, however, I divide into only two : Pluvialis and 

 Charadrius. Strepsilas and Ostralegus are the only other 

 British genera. The latter, most intimately allied to the 

 former, has a more elongated bill, and leads to the family of 

 Scolopacinse. 



These birds are generally of small size, and many of them 

 are very diminutive, although some are rather large. In 

 general, they have a moderately full, or rather slender body, 

 of an ovate, somewhat compressed form ; slender legs, rather 



