30i 



RECUIlVmOSTRA. AVOSET. 



The Avoccts form a genus of birds remarkable for having 

 their long" and very slender bill considerably curved upwards. 

 Although in all other respects very similar to the Totani, 

 their anterior toes are connected by Avebs of large extent. 

 Their body is compact, ovate, rather slender ; the neck long ; 

 the head small, ovate, compressed, rounded above. 



Bill more than twice the length of the head, very slender, 

 depressed or broader than high, tapering to the point, slightly 

 recurved : upper mandible with the dorsal line straight for 

 half its length, then curved upwards, the ridge flattened, the 

 nasal groove very narrow and extending to a third, the point 

 slightly decurved ; lower mandible with the angle long and 

 very narrow, the dorsal line slightly curved upwards, the 

 point very slender and curved a little upwards, the edges 

 of both mandibles thick and grooved. Two longitudinal 

 series of blunt reversed papilla? on the palate. Tongue 

 slightly emarginate and papillate at the base, slender, taper- 

 ing, pointed, flattened above, horny beneath. (Esophagus 

 narrow, dilated a little about the middle ; proventriculus 

 with oblong glandules. Stomach an oblong gizzard of mode- 

 rate strength, with distinct muscles, large tendons, and 

 dense, longitudinal rugous epithelium. Intestine rather 

 long and of moderate width ; cceca rather long, cylindrical, 

 narrow. 



Eyes small ; nostrils basal, linear, perforated ; aperture 

 of ear roundish, rather large. Leg very long, slender ; tibia 

 bare for half its length, reticulated ; tarsus very long, com- 

 pressed, reticulated with hexagonal scales ; hind toe ex- 

 tremely small and elevated ; anterior toes rather short, the 

 outer a little longer than the second, all scutellatc, and con- 



