XXXVl INTRODUCTION. 



curved, soft at the base, hard, soHd and cutting at the point, compressed 

 throughout the whole length, ending in a sharp point ; both mandibles 

 grooved at the base, the extreme end of the upper mandible slightly bent 

 towards the under one. Nostrils lateral, linear, pierced longitudinally in a 

 groove. Wings moderate ; the first quill the longest ; inner secondaries 

 elongated. Tail rather short ; somewhat rounded. Legs moderate or long, 

 slender, naked above the tarsal joint ; three toes in front, one behind ; the 

 middle toe united to the outer toe by a membrane (p. 591). 



LiMOSA, Brissou. — Bill very long, rather tirick at the base, compressed, slightly 

 curved upwards ; both mandibles grooved laterally to within a short distance 

 of the point, which is somewhat dilated and blunt ; tip of the upper 

 mandible projecting beyond the lower one. Nostrils basal, placed in the 

 lateral groove, narrow and longitudinal. Wings pointed, of moderate length, 

 the first quill the longest. Tail short and even. Legs long and slender, a 

 great part of the tibia naked. Feet four-toed, three in front, one behind ; 

 outer and middle toes united at the base by a membrane, the inner toe nearly 

 free ; middle claw dilated, recurved, and pectinated ; hind toe short, and 

 articulated upon the tarsus d). 607). 



NuMENius, B7-isson. — Bill long, slender, and decurved to the point, which is 

 hard ; upper mandible rather longer than the lower, rounded near the end 

 and grooved along three-fourths of its whole length. Nostrils lateral, linear, 

 pierced in the groove. Wings moderate, the first quill the longest. Legs 

 rather long, slender ; tibia partly naked ; three toes in front, united by a 

 membrane as far as the first joint ; one toe behind articulated upon the 

 tarsus and touching the ground (p. 611). 



Order GAVIiE. 



Family LARID/E. 

 Subfamily .Stern in-'E. 



Hydrochelidon, Bok. — Bill about as long as the head, nearly straight, tapering. 

 Nasal groove rather long ; nostrils basal, direct, oblong. Wings long and 

 pointed, the first quill the longest. Tail short, very slightly forked. Legs 

 short ; the tibia bare for some distance ; the tarsus compressed, anteriorly 

 scutellate ; three toes in front connected by deeply scalloped webs ; hind toe 

 small and elevated ; claws long, slender, curved (p. 617). 



Sterna, Brisson. — Bill longer than the head, nearly straight, compressed, often 

 slender and tapering, with the edges sharp, and the end pointed ; the mandi- 

 bles of equal length, the upper one slightly decurved. Nostrils near the 

 middle of the beak, pierced longitudinally, pervious. Wings long, pointed, 

 the first quill-feather the longest. Tail distinctly forked in varying degrees. 

 Legs slender, naked for a short space above the tarsal joint; tarsi short. 

 Toes four ; the three in front united by intervening membranes concave in 

 front, or semipalmated ; the hind toe free; claws curved (p. 623). 



Angus, Stephens. — Tail moderately long, rounded, slightly emarginate. Three 

 anterior toes united by a very full web, hind toe small; claws strong and 

 curved. Otherwise much as in Stenm (p. 639). 



