2 t2 AVES : LIMIC0L.1':. — XXXVIII. 



greenish. L. 14. W. 7^. T. 3^. Ts. 2. S. States, straying N. 

 to N. E. and Wis. (Lat., helmeted.) 



381. FTJIiICA LinniPus. (Lat., coot.) 



719. F. americana (dinelin). Coot. Mri> IIk.v. Dark slate 

 color or sooty, with white on winjjjs and crissmn ; bill pale in adult, 

 with a brown spot near tip; frontid shield dark brown. L. 14. 

 W. 8. T. 2. N. Am., abundant in reedy swamps ; an excellent 

 swimmer. 



Okdkr XXXVIII. LIMICOLiE. (The SiiouK-niRDs.) 



This division of the old order of Grallce includes the allies of 

 the Plover and Snipe, as distinguished from the nearly related 

 Cranes and Rails on the one hand and the remotely related 

 Herons and Ibises on the other. Some of the external characters 

 of the group are the following. Tibia more or less naked below; 

 legs long; hind toe free and elevated, often wanting. Head glo- 

 bose, abruptly sloping to the base of the bill; com[)letely feathered 

 (except in the male of PaconccUn)\ gape short; bill weak, flexible, 

 more or less soft-skinned and sensitive at tij) in most cases, adaj)ted 

 for probing in the mud; nostrils slit-like, surrounded by soft skin. 

 Schi/ognathous ; j)recocial. 



The LimlculiF are all birds of small size, abundant on sandy 

 shores and in marshes. In spite of the difference in aj)pearance 

 and habits, these birds have much in common with the gulls, in 

 their anatomy. (Lat., Umus, mud; colo, I inhabit.) 



Faniilies of Limicolse. 



a. Toea lobate, with distinct lateral membranes ; tarsus pxtremely compres.'spd. 



Phalahof'odid.*:, 143. 

 aa. Toea not lobate; webbed or not. 



b. Tarsus more tlian twice iniildle foe with claw; naked part of tibia much 

 longer than middle toe witli claw; feet palmate or not. 



KEcnniRosTKiD.F., 144. 

 bb. Tarsus les.s than twice middle toe with claw; naked portion of tibia 

 shorter than middle toe with claw; toes cleft or semipalmate. 

 c. Tarsus scutcllate in front. 



d. Bill slender, with a bluntish tip; soft-skinned and sensitive throuf;h- 



out SroixirArin.K, 145. 



dd. Bill stout, hard, pointed and wedge-shaped at tip (in our sjM'cies). 



AfHi{i/ii>.>:, 14G. 

 CC. Tarsus reticulate in front. 



e. Bill not longer than tarsus, not compressed; contracted behind the 



horny tip, shaped somewhat like a pigeon's bill. 



Ciiakahkiid.k, 147. 

 ee. Bill longer than tnrsiis, much compressed at tip. 



lI.K.MAroINiUlll.K, 148. 



