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BIRDS——RECURVIROSTRIDAE— RECURVIROSTRA AMERICANA, 703 
Family RECURVIROSTRIDAE. 
The Recurvirostridae, in addition to the features already mentioned, are essentially char 
acterized by the excessive length of the legs, with a very long, slender neck and slender 
elongated bill. Of the several genera assigned the family, but two belong to the United 
States, with the following features: 
Toes webbed to the claws. 
RecurvirostrRA.—Hind toe present. Bill recurved at tip. 
Himantopus.—Hind toe wanting. A short web between middle and outer toes at base. Bill 
straight. 
RECURVIROSTRA, Linnaeus. 
Type R. avocetta, L. (Gray.) 
Cu.—Hind toe rudimentary ; anterior toes united to the claws by a much emarginated membrane. 
Recurvirostra, Linn. Syst. Nat. 1744. 
Bill depressed, extended 
into a fine point, which is recurved. Tail covered by the wings. 
RECURVIROSTRA AMERICANA, Gm. 
American Avosit. 
Recurvirostra americana, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 693.—Wixs. Am. Orn. VII, 1813, 126.—Sw. F. Bor. Am. II, 1831, 
375.—Nurr. Man. I, 78.—Avp. Orn. Biog. IV, 1838, 168 ; pl. 318.—In. Syn. 252.—In. 
Birds Amer. VI, 1843, 247; pl. 353. 
Recurvirostra occidentalis, Vicors, Zool. Jour. IV, 1829, 356.—Is. Zool. Blossom, 1839, 28 ; pl]. xiiimWacteEn, Isis, 
1831, 520.—Bairp, Zool. Stansbury, Salt Lake, 1852.—Cassin, Illust. I, vi, 1855, 
Poe; Dl.cXl. 
Ficures._Wilson, Am. Or. VII, pl. 63, fig. 2. Aud. B. of Am. pl. 3183 oct. ed. vi. pl. 353. Latham, Synopsis, V, 
pl. 92. Leach, Zool. Misc. II, pl. 101. Voy. Blossom, Birds, pl. 12. Cassin, B. of Cal. and Texas, pl. 40. (Young.) 
Spr. Cu.—Bill rather long, depressed ; wings long ; legs long ; tarsi compressed ; tail short. .4dult: Head and neck pale 
reddish brown, darker on the head and fading gradually into white. Back, wing coverts and quills black ; scapulars, tips of 
greater wing coverts, rump and tail and entire under parts white, the last frequently tinged with reddish. Bill brownish black, 
legs bluish. Young: very similar to the adult, but with the head and neck white, frequently tinged with ashy on the head and 
neck behind. Total length, about 17 inches ; wing, 8: to 9; tail, 33 ; bill to gape, 33; tarsus, 3} inches. 
Hab.—All of temperate North America ; Florida (Mr. Wiirdemann.) 
Appears to inhabit the whole of North America to the Arctic regions ; more abundant on the 
western coast. In the present collection we find numerous specimens in all stages of plumage, 
and have no doubt that F. occidentalis, Vigors, is the young bird as given above, 
List of specimens. 
Catal.) Sex. Locality. Whencol- | Whence obtained. | Orig. | Collected by— |Length,| Stretch | Wing. Remarks. 
No. lected. No. of wings.| 
— Se == 
4260 |ccces| Calcasieu Pass, LA. ...cc.|ecceccercccees GIOWUrdemanns:|ecoccclee’ cieicsevscceveciecocs easilisesae ses 
4549 |......| Platte river,bel.Ft.Laramie| Sept. 6, 1855] Lt, Warren...eos/seeees|seeee eee eens cees eee eee] ecceees 
8772 | @ | Platte river Aug: 12...6.. Wm. Magraw....|..e0es Dr. Cooper....| 16.50 | 29.25 
Oi Alilleeses|ovienss dO... vccceoce Os, ceccecles eve dO. crccccerlovee er|svecceedOsscecece| 15.25 29.00 | 
6635 fof Minnesota......+.. A 20, 1853 | Gov. Stevens....}..000+ Dr. Suckley....} 13.12 30.60 | 
7064 | ¢ | Laramie river, Neb...... Q3eeveee| Lite Bryan cccese.| . 318i} We S.-WO0d.,.|eccecees 
7062 | @ | W. slope of Med. Bow...| July 23, 1857]}..06..d0...... ease 
5446 |g | Yellowstone river........ July 30,1856 | Lt. Warren...... 
BOSS secsee|) HOF LD HONS NieiMisstisicsce|sceciisisieiesiee sc Dr. Henryccscses 
4174 @ | Brazos Santiago, Texas.. .| Capt. Van Vliet.. 
Fort Tejon, Cal.......... .| J.Xantus deVesey 
4980 |...... Dofia Ana, N. M....eeeee ROUCKICOCOOND Capt. Pope....... Eye dark, bill black, feet 
bluish green. 
10410 |...... Livermore’s ranche ......|.+ Lit. Williamson ..}..e00 |scccccseccos rece 
4507 |......| San Francisco..... +. sevelece sisclesinetestes |(ossielee dO.. soe eoeslcoveee| Dr. Newberry..|... 
SOA i eeeste | MCZICO see ceslvessicces «+e.| Sept. —, 1836 | John Gould......|.se00e eveccccccccceleccecnes| cove 
tn 
