2 CEDICNEMID^!. 



Key to the Families. 



a. Nostrils holorhinal ; tarsus covered on both 



aspects with hexagonal scales (Edicnemidae, p. 2. 



b. Nostrils schizorhinal *. 

 a . Crop not globular. 



a". Ehamphotheca simple. 



a'". Without basipterygoid processes . . Cursoriidae, p. 26. 

 V" . With basipterygoid processes. 

 a 4 . Lateral occipital fontanelles 



absent Parridae, p. 68. 



6". Lateral occipital fontanelles [p. 90. 



present Charadriidae, 



b". Rhampotheca complex Chionididae, p. 710. 



b'. With a globular crop Thinocorythidae, 



[p. 714. 



Although the above characters may be of great importance in an 

 arrangement of these birds, they are not of much assistance in the 

 determination of specimens. Other external characters are given 

 below under the headings of the respective families. 



Family I. (EDICNEMIDAE. 



Palate schizognathous. 



Nasals holorhinal. 



Basipterygoid processes absent. 



Spinal feather-tract not forked on the upper back. 



Feet not webbed. 



Hind toe absent ; middle claw not pectinated. 



Tarsus entirely reticulated, both in back and front. 



Nest none. 



Eggs two in number, stone-colour, with sparse black lines and 

 markings. 



Nestling covered with dense down, of a sandy colour, with two 

 black lines down the black. 



Of. Seebohm, Classif. B. p. 37 ; Sharpe, Classif. B. p. 73 (1891). 



The great resemblance which these birds present to the Bustards 

 (Otides), and the fact that in both families the nostrils are 

 " holorhinal," have led to their close association in many systems 

 of classification. Among the Limicolce, the (Edicnemidce stand 

 somewhat isolated, but their nearest allies are undoubtedly the 

 Oyster-catchers, their eggs very much resembling those of the last- 

 named birds. 



* Except Pluvianus, which is referred to the Cursoriidce. 



