802 SYSTEMATIC SYNOPSIS. — LIMICOL.E. 



platyrhyncha, the peculiarity of vvliicli is expressed iu its name. Two isolated and extremely 

 rare Sandpipers are ^chmorliynchus parvirostris of some Pacific islands, and Prosobonia leu- 

 coptera of the Sandwich Islands, the latter probably now extinct ; these have the tail barred, 

 as usual in the next group, but the toes cleft to base, as in most of tlie present group. Their 

 relations appear to be close with our genus Tryngites, w^hich serves to connect Sandpipers 

 proper with 



/. Tattlers (Totamis, etc.), with which it is ranged, beyond. In this, the largest and most 

 varied group, the bill has comparatively little of the sensitiveness of that of all the foregoing, 

 and the gape is longer, extending obviously beyond base of culmen, sometimes to nearly below 

 eyes. It varies much in length and shape, but it is usually longer than head, very slender, not 

 often grooved to tip, and is either straight, or bent slightly upward. The body and its mem- 

 bers are commonly more elongate than in the foregoing ; the front toes have a l)asal web or 

 two, and the hind toe is always present. The tail is usually barred. These are noisy, restless 

 birds of marshes, sand-flats, and mud-bars, and apparently do not probe for food to any extent; 

 they gain their name from their often harsh voice. The Redshanks, Greenshanks, and our 

 Yellowshanks are typical examples of this group ; most of the species cluster close about these, 

 and might go in the single genus Totamis. But our genera Tryngites, Actitis, Heteractitis, 

 Symphemia, and Bartramia are pretty well marked ; so is the genus Pavoncella, which enters 

 our fauna as a straggler from Europe ; while the extralimital Terekia cinerea and Pseiidototanus 

 guttifer stand somewhat apart from others, both being semipalmate, and the former having a 

 long bill like a Godwit's. There are about 20 species in all, universally distributed. 



g. Curlews (Numenius) are distinguished by downward curvature, extreme slenderness, 

 and usually great length of bill, with scutellation of tarsus confined to front (except in one spe- 

 cies). In size and general appearance they are near Godwits ; they inhabit all parts of the 

 W(jrld. They all belong to the genus Numenius, which has 10 species (or 9, ifiV. minutus 

 be separated as Mesoscolopax. viinutus, having the tarsi scutellate behind as well as before). 



/(-. Ibidorhyncha struthersi is a remarkable bird of Central Asia, lately made by Dr. 

 Sharpe type and sole member of a subfamily Ibidorhynckince. It has been called an 

 Ibis-billed Curlew with the feet of a Plover, and otherwise styled Ibis-billed Oyster-catcher, 

 Red-billed Erolia, Gorgeted Chlorhynx, etc. The toes are three only ; the tarsi are entirely 

 reticulate; the bill is very long and decurved, with extensive furrows; the sternum is notched 

 and fenestrate on each side behind. It is a large bird, over a foot long, with black, gray, and 

 white plumage, and bloody red feet, bill, and eyes. 



i. Phegornis mitchelli is a South American species commonly referred to the Charadriidce, 

 as it has no hind toe, and in some other respects resembles a Plover; but the toes are cleft to 

 the base, the tarsi are scutellate, and the bird is referred by late authorities to the Scolopacidcc, 

 in the vicinity of the genera ^chmorhynclms and Prosobonia. 



No other Scolopacidcc than those above mentioned by name, or indicated by the context, 

 are known to exist. 



Artificial Analysis of North American Genera, of Scoi.opacid«. 



Toes 3. (Sandpiper) Calidris 



Toes 4. 



Bill spoon-shaped at the end. (Sandpiper) Eurynorhynchus 



Bill not spoon-shaped. 



One outer primary emarginate, narrowed. (European Woodcock) Scolopax 



Three outer primaries emarginate, narrowly linear. (American Woodcock) Philohela 



No outer primaries emarginate. 



Toes cleft to tlie base (or with one minute web in one case) 

 Tarsus shorter than middle toe and claw. 



Bill about twice as long as head ; tibiae naked below. (Snipe) ........ Gallinago 



Bill little longer than head ; tibiae feathered to suffrago. (Sandpiper) Arquatella 



Tarsus about equal to or longer than middle toe and claw. (Sandpipers.) 



