INTRODUCTION. XXXIU 



^OIAI.ITIS, Boie. — Bill much shorter than the head, rather slender ; straight to 

 the end of the nasal furrow, which extends beyond the middle of the bill, then 

 slightly raised, but bent downwards at the tip. Nostrils small and linear. 

 Wings long, pointed, the first quill the longest ; the inner secondaries 

 reaching to the tip of the third primary. Tail broad, slightly rounded. Legs 

 moderately long, slender, bare for a short distance above the tarsal joint ; 

 tarsus reticulated. Toes three only, slightly webbed at the base (p. 537). 



Charadrius, Lifiii(Cits. — Bill shorter than the head, straight, rather slender, the 

 upper mandible straight to the end of the nasal furrow, then slightly raised, 

 and decurved to the pointed tip. Nostrils sub-basal and linear. Wings long 

 and pointed, the first quill the longest ; inner secondaries much shorter than 

 in Eudrornias and somewhat shorter than in yEgialitis. Legs of moderate 

 length, slender, bare for a short distance above the tarsal joint ; tarsus reticu- 

 lated. Toes three only, all directed forwards, slightly webbed at the base 

 (p. 547). 



Squatarola, Leach. — Bill nearly as long as the head, rather strong, upper 

 mandible straight to the end of the nasal groove, which is long and wide, 

 then raised and decurved to the tip. Nostrils sub-basal, linear. Wings long, 

 pointed, the first quill the longest. Legs moderate, slender ; lower part of 

 the tibia naked, tarsus reticulated. Toes four in number ; three directed 

 forward and slightly webbed at their base, the fourth behind, and minute, but 

 distinct and elevated (p. 551). 



V.A.N'ELLUS, Brissoii. — Bill shorter than the head, straight, slightly compressed ; 

 the points of both mandibles horny and hard. Nasal groove wide, and 

 reaching as far as the horny tip. Nostrils basal, linear, pierced in the 

 membrane of the nasal groove. Wings large, tuberculated or spurred in 

 front of the carpal joint ; the first and second quill-feathers shorter than the 

 third and fourth, which are about equal, and the longest in the wing. Legs 

 slender, with the lower part of the tibia; naked ; tarsi reticulated behind, 

 scutellated in front ; the three anterior toes united at the base by a membrane ; 

 hind toe short, articulated upon the tarsus (p. 553). 



Strepsilas, Illiger. — 'RiW as short as the head, strong, thick at the base, tapering 

 gradually to the point, forming an elongated cone ; the upper mandible the 

 longer, rather blunt at the end. Nostrils basal, lateral, linear, pervious, 

 partly covered by a membrane. Wings long, pointed, the first quill-feather 

 the longest. Three toes in front, united by a membrane at the base and 

 furnished with narrow rudimentary interdigital membranes ; a hind toe 

 articulated upon the tarsus and just reaching the ground (p. 557). 



H.^MATOrus, Liinhriis. —'QiW longer than the head, straight, strong, the point 

 much compressed, forming a wedge ; culmen of the anterior part slightly 

 convex ; upper mandible with a broad lateralg roove on each side for half the 

 length of the bill ; mandibles nearly equal in size and length, with the thin 

 ends truncated. Nostrils basal, lateral, linear, pierced in the membrane of 

 the mandilxdar groove. Legs of moderate length, naked for a short space 

 above the tarsal joint ; tarsi strong. Three toes only, all directed forward, 

 united at their base by a membrane ; claws broad (p. 559). 



Recurvirostra, Liiiiiteiis.—BWX very long, slender, weak, depressed for nearly 

 its whole length, flexible, pointed, and curving upwards ; the upper mandible 



C 



