172 * BKTTTSH BIRDS. 



Genus TRINGA. 



The genus Tringa was recognized by Linnseus in 1766, in the twelfth 

 edition of his ' Systema Natiu'se/ i. p. 24<7. It is impossible to discover any 

 type of the genus Tringa, inasmuch as the Tringa tringa of Brisson (the 

 Green Sandpiper) and the species mentioned first both by Linnseus and 

 Bechstein (the Ruff) both belong to the genus Totanus. It is therefore 

 necessary to rely upon the verdict auctorum plurimorum, which falls, so far 

 as I have been able to ascertain, upon the Knot, T. canutus, which may be 

 accepted as the type. 



The soft-billed, cleft-toed Sandpipers have the tarsus scutellated before 

 and behind (a character which serves to distinguish them from the Curlews), 

 and they are all furnished with a hind toe. In all the species the toes are 

 cleft to the base. The bill is always shorter than the combined lengths of 

 the tarsus and middle toe, and never as much as a fourth of the length of 

 the wing ; it is narrow and very slightly compressed before the end, which 

 is covered by a soft membrane like that of a Snipe. The tail-feathers are 

 always plain, without any bars or other darker markings. 



The species of the genus Tringa are (with one .doubtful exception) con- 

 fined to the Palaearctic and Nearctic Regions during the breeding-season, 

 but in winter this genus is almost cosmopolitan. It contains about a 

 score species, half of which are included in the European list, visiting our 

 islands principally on migration. 



The birds in this genus inhabit both the sea-coast and inland marshes, 

 streams, and moorlands. In most of their habits they do not difi'er from 

 the birds in the preceding genera ; their flight is equally powerful, they 

 run and walk with equal ease, their notes are similar, as are also their food 

 and manner of reproduction. 



The soft-billed, cleft-toed Sandpipers have been subdivided by modern 

 ornithologists into six or more genera ; but the characters upon which they 

 are founded are so trivial that they are not worth enumeration. The 

 following key to the British species will enable the ornithologist to name a 

 bird in any plumage : — 



a. Upper tail-Cdverts wliite, or white ban-ed with black. 



a^. Length of wing more than H inches T. canutus. 



b\ Length of wing lets than i')\ inches T. subarquata. 



h. Upper tail-coverts white, streaked with black T. bonaparti. 



