190 SPOLIA ZEYLANICA. 
Order LIMICOLZA. 
The Waders. 
The members of this large order, as their name implies, 
are mainly birds of the seashore, of sandy wastes, or of marshes. 
The formation of the legs and feet is usually adapted for 
running and wading. The birds seldom perch, and the hind 
toe in consequence is generally minute and often wanting. 
The tarsus in most cases is comparatively lengthy, and not 
only it, but also the lower half of the tibia arenaked. The toes 
are seldom conspicuously webbed, but most species can swim 
well. Many of the birds are migratory, and the flight of 
almost all is strong, the wing quills being well developed. 
The bill shows great diversity. It may be long and straight like 
the snipe’s, pigeon-shaped as in the plover, curve up like the 
avocet’s, or down like the curlew’s. It is, however, generally 
slender, with the nostril carried in a lateral groove. As regards 
nidification, the eggs are nearly always laid on the ground, 
with a scanty nest lining or none at all. The young when 
hatched are covered with down, and can run about forthwith. 
The order is divided into five families, one of which, the 
Charadrude, is well represented, comprising, as it does, the 
plovers, avocets, sandpipers, and snipes. The other four 
are small, and include groups of birds which—though their 
internal structure shows them to be nearly related to the 
plovers—often differ considerably in outward appearance, 
and in several cases point to affinities with other orders. The 
(Edicnemidx, Stone Plovers, resemble the Bustards ; while 
the Crab Plover, sole representative of the Dromadide, is 
distinctly related to the Gulls. The remaining two families 
are the Glareolide (Coursers and Swallow Plovers) and the 
Parride (Jaganas). 
Family GipicnemMipa&. 
The Stone Plovers. 
A small family, limited in Ceylon to two species placed in 
separate genera. They are rather bigger than the ordinary 
run of plovers, with heayier and stouter bills. The plumage 
is harsh and stiff. The hind toe is absent; the three front 
