XXXIV INTRODUCTION. 



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

 above the tarsal joint ; tarsi strong. Feet with three toes only, all directed 

 forward, united at their base by a membrane ; claws broad (p. 543). 



Family SCOLOPACID.E. 



Recurvirostra, Li/iriict/s. — Bill ver}' long, slender, weak, depressed throughout 

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

 grooved along the upper surface, under mandible grooved along the side. 

 Nostrils near the base of the upper surface of the beak, linear, long. \Yings 

 pointed, the first quill the longest. Legs long and slender, a great portion of 

 the tibia naked ; three toes in front, united as far as the second joint by a 

 membrane, the margin of which is concave : hind toe minute, articulated 

 high up on the tarsiis (p. 545). 



Hl.MANTOPUS, Bn'sson. — Bill long, slender, slightly recurved at the tip, cylindri- 

 cal, flattened at the base, compressed at the point, both mandibles grooved 

 on the sides along the basal half of their length. Nostrils lateral, linear, 

 elongated. Wings verj' long, the first quill considerably the longest. Legs 

 verj- long and slender ; three toes only, all in front, the middle united to the 

 outer toe by a membrane of considerable size, and to the interior toe by a 

 smaller membrane ; claws small and flat (p, 547). 



pHALAROPrs, Bn'ssoti. — Bill rather long, weak, straight, depressed, and blunt; 

 both mandibles grooved throughout their whole length ; the upper mandible 

 slightly cur\-ed at the point. Nostrils basal, lateral, oval, with an elevated 

 margin. Wings long and pointed, the first quiU the longest. Legs rather 

 short, slender. Tarsus compressed ; three toes in front, furnished with an 

 extension of the membrane laterally, forming lobes slightly serrated at the 

 edges ; a small hind toe articulated on the inner side of the tarsus (p. 549). 



SCOLOPAX, Brisson. — Bill long, straight, compressed, slender, soft, slightly 

 curved at the point ; both mandibles grooved over the basal half of their 

 length ; point of the upper mandible extending beyond that of the lower 

 mandible, the curved part forming a slight crook ; superior ridge elevated at 

 the base, prominent. Nostrils lateral, 'basal, pierced^longitudinally near the 

 edges of the mandible, covered by a membrane. Wings moderate, the first 

 quill the longest. Tail short, rounded. Legs rather short, tibia feathered 

 nearly to the tarsal joint ; three toes before and one behind, the anterior 

 toes almost entirely divided (p. 553). 



GallixaCxO, Leach. — Bill verj- long, straight, slender, flexible, slightly elevated 

 towards the tip of the upper mandible, which is decur\-ed at the point and 

 projects beyond the lower ; both mandible-; grooved over the basal half of 

 their length. Nostrils lateral, linear, basal, covered by a membrane. Tail 

 slightlj- rounded. Wings moderate, pointed, the first quill the longest ; 

 inner secondaries very long. Legs rather long and slender ; naked space on 

 the tibia short ; tarsus scutellate ; three toes before, long, slender, divided to 

 the base ; hind toe slender, elevated ; claws slender, acute (p. 555). 



Macrorhamphus, Lcoch. — Bill long, straight, rounded, rather slender in the 

 middle, the tip dilated, slightly incur%-ed and rugose. Nostrils lateral, basal. 

 Wings long and pointed. Tail of twelve feathers. Lower part of the tibia 

 naked ; toes four in number, those on the outside connected at their base 

 by a membrane : the hind toe touching the ground only at the tip (p. 561). 



