325 



TOTANUS. TATLER. 



The Tatlers are very nearly allied to the Longshanks and 

 Weetweets, betAveen which they may be considered as in most 

 respects intermediate. Their general habits and food are 

 similar, although they present some peculiarities, and several 

 of the species are so similar to the latter birds, that they might 

 be placed in either genus. Their body is ovate and rather 

 slender, their neck slender and longish, their head small, 

 oblong, and compressed, with the forehead considerably 

 rounded. 



Bill about a third longer than the head, straight, very 

 slender, soft and flexible at the base, hard and elastic at the 

 end. Upper mandible with the dorsal line straight, the 

 ridge convex, the sides grooved to beyond the middle, after- 

 wards convex, the edges thick with a linear groove, the tip 

 slightly decimate, narrowed, blunt, and a little exceeding the 

 other ; lower mandible with the angle long and extremely 

 narrow, the sides grooved to the middle, afterwards convex, 

 the dorsal outline straight or slightly concave, the edges thick 

 Avith a linear groove, the tip narrowed and a little obtuse. 

 The gape-line straight. Throat A r ery narrow. 



Both mandibles internally Avith a A*ery narrow and deep 

 grooA r e ; palate Avith a double row of papilla?. Posterior aper- 

 ture of the nares linear, margined Avith papilla?. Tongue 

 linear, emarginate at the base Avith three lateral papilla?, 

 channelled above, acute. (Esophagus narrow, and without 

 dilatation ; proventriculus AA r ith oblong glandules ; gizzard 

 rather large, oblong, Avith very poAverful distinct muscles, its 

 inner coat rugous. Intestine long ; coeca of moderate length, 

 cylindrical. 



Nostrils small, linear, pervious, basal, close to the margin. 

 Eyes rather small ; both eyelids closely feathered. Aperture 

 of ear rather small, roundish. Feet long, very slender ; tibia 



