PHA LA R OP GDI DM : PIIA LA ROPES. 



793 



1.25; greenish-drab or pale brownish-olive to dark ochraceous, boldly marked all over 

 with spots and splashes of blackish-brown ; they resemble those of the Avocet, but average 

 <lecidedly smaller. 



Family PHALAROPODID^ : Phalaropes. 



This is likewise a small family; the three species composing it resemble Sandpipers, 

 but are immediately distinguished by lobate feet ; toes furnished with plain or scalloped 

 membranes, like those of Coots and Grebes, but not so broad. Body depressed, and 

 under plumage tliick and duck-like to resist water, on which the birds swim with perfect 



Via. 547. — Stilt. (From Tenney, after 

 Wilson.) 



ease and grace. Wings and tail 

 like those of ordinary Sandpipers; 



^'■KS-A 



Fio. 548. — Stilt. (From Seebohm's Charadriidie.) 



tarsi much compressed, witli serrulate hinder edge, like a Grebe's; there is basal webbing of 

 the toes besides the marginal membranes; the bill, and some other details of form, differ in 

 each of the three genera (Fig. 549). These birds inhabit the northern portions of both 

 hemispheres, two of them at least breeding (mly in boreal regions, but they all wander far 

 southward in winter. There are but three species, one peculiar to America, the others of 

 general distribution. The duties of incubation are undertaken largely by the male Phalarope. 



Analysis of (lenera. 



Membranes plain : bill very slender, subulate Slrptmoput 



Membranes scalloped ; bill very slender, subulate . . , l.obiprt 



Membranes scalloped ; bill stouter, Hattened, with lancet-shaped tip Phuhiropus 



STKGAN'OPUS. (Gr. (rrtynvoiTovi, stegnnopoiis, web-foot.) Fkinc.k-koot I'iiai. vkoi'K.s. 

 Bill long, eiinalling tarsus, exceeding head, extremely slender, terete ami acute, ("ulmen and 

 gonys broad and depressetl. Lateral gnioves long and narrow, reaching nearly to tip of bill. 

 Interramal space narrow and very short, extending only half-way to end of bill. No.«trila at 

 extreme base of bill. Win;j;s of moderate length. Tail short, deeply doubly-eimtrginato: logs 

 greatly elongated ; tibia> bare for a considerable distance ; tarsus exceedinc miiidle t<M». Tooa 

 long and slender, broadly maririned with an even, unscalloped membrane, united but for a 

 l>rief space basally. Claws moderately lon;j, ;ircheil, and acute. This is an excellent jjenn.x, 

 founded by \'ieilIot in lrtl!>. which the .V. O. U. made only a subgenus of i'/i<i//ir(7>M.-« during 



