360 SCOLOPACIN^E. 



however, are hard, narrowly obtuse, the upper extending 

 beyond the lower, and receiving it into a wide groove 

 beneath, in such a manner as to prevent its offering any 

 impediment to the easy intrusion of the bill into the mud. 

 This character, however, also presents itself in some of the 

 Tringina?. 



The mouth is extremely narrow ; the tongue elongated, 

 very slender, channelled above, and acutely pointed ; on the 

 palate are numerous short, pointed papilla?, directed back- 

 wards, and arranged in two series. The oesophagus is 

 narrow ; the stomach a roundish, compressed, very muscular 

 gizzard, with a dense plicate epithelium ; the intestine of 

 moderate length and width ; the coeca rather long. 



The nostrils very small, linear, basal. Eyes moderate, 

 generally placed higher than in other birds. The aperture 

 of the ear large and roundish. The legs are short ; the bare 

 part of tibia very limited ; the tarsus short, anteriorly scu- 

 tellate ; the toes four, the first very small and elevated ; 

 the anterior long, slender ; the fourth a little longer than 

 the second ; the third much longer ; the claws rather long, 

 slender, little arched, acute. 



The plumage moderately compact ; the wings long or 

 moderate, rather broad, but pointed ; the first quill, how- 

 ever, not much exceeding the second ; the inner secondaries 

 generally much elongated, sometimes moderate and rounded. 

 The tail short, of from twelve to twenty or more soft, narrow 

 feathers. 



These birds are of more bidding habits than the Trin- 

 gina? and Totaninse which frequent open places, and render 

 themselves conspicuous by searching the open shores or 

 exposed places, by their free unsneaking flight, and often by 

 their clamorous cries. They, on the contrary, seek the 

 retirement and security of swamps, marshes, ditches, and 

 brooks. There they search for their food in the quietest pos- 

 sible manner, proceeding singly and sedately, and thrusting 

 their long, delicately sensitive, probe-like bills into the mud, 

 whence they extract the worms and larva?, sucking them up 

 as it were, and swallowing them with still immersed bill. 

 They never, I think, pick up insects from the surface, nor 



