790 



S Y STEM A TIC S YNOPSIS. — LIMICOLM. 



depressed; plumage underneath thickened as in water-birds. The species swim well. Clado- 

 rhi/nchtis leucocephalus (or pectorulis) of Australia is 3-toed, web-footed, witli tarsus more than 

 twice as long as middle toe and claw, and scarcely recurved bill. Rimantopus is 3-toed, 



semipalmate, the bill nearly 

 straight, and not flattened; 

 in relative length of leg it 

 is probably not surpassed 

 by any bird whatsoever. These three genera 

 compose the family. 



RECURVIROS'TRA. (Lat. recurvus, 

 bent upward; rostrum, h'A\. Figs. 541, 542.) 

 AvocETS. Bill excessively slender, more or 

 less recurved, upper mandible hooked at ex- 

 treme tip ; much longer than head, more or 

 less nearly equalling tail and tarsus ; flat- 

 tened on top, without culminal ridge. Wings 

 short (for a wader). Tail very short, square, 

 less than half the wing. Legs exceedingly 

 long and slender; tibije loner-denuded ; tarsus 

 sus not more than twice as long as middle toe 

 and claw ; covering of legs skinny. Feet 4- 

 toed ; front toes full-webbed, hind toe short, 

 free. Body remarkably depressed and feath- 

 ered underneath with thick duck -like plu- 

 mage ; altogether, as in swimming rather than 

 as in wading birds. It is a modification like 

 that seen in the lobe-footed Phalaropes. 

 Sexes and young alike ; winter and summer 

 plumage different (in the North American 

 species at any rate). The extralimital spe- 

 cies are the European R. avocetta; the 

 Australian and New Zealand E. novcB-hollandice, and the more different B. andinus, which 

 has a white head and under parts and a black mantle, thus resembling a Stilt. (The English 

 word avocet, better spelled avoset, is from Italian 

 (Ferrarese) avosetta, whence New Lat. avocetta; 

 all these being considered as diminutive forms of 

 Lat. avis, a bird.) 



R. america'na. (Lat. americana, American. 

 Figs. 543, 544.) American Avocet. " Irish 

 Snipe." Beue-stocking. Adult J* 9 , iw sum- 

 mer: White, changing gradually to cinnamon or 

 chestnut-brown on neck and head, excepting, 

 usually, the parts about base of bill. Interscapu- 

 lars and part of scapulars black ; wings black, with 

 lining, and part of secondaries and coverts, white. 

 Tail pearl-gray. Iris red (sometimes brown). Legs dull blue (drying blackish), much of 

 the webs flesh-color ; bill black, often pale at base below. Size extremely variable : length 

 16.00-20.00; extent 28.00-38.00! wing 7.00-9.50; tail 300-4.00; tibiae bare 2.50; tarsus 

 3.50 or more ; middle toe and claw 2.00 or less ; bill 3.50, more or less, varying in shape 

 from nearly straight to strongly recurved and hooked. The bill resembles whalebone, and 



Fig. 541. — European Avocet, Becurvirostra avocetta,^ 

 nat. size. (From Brehm.) 



Fio. 54'2. — Head and foot of Avocet, about \ 

 nat. size. 



