NIN 
AN INTRODUCTION TO THE BIRD. 291 
the front toes long and slim without any membranes, 
your bird is surely a Ram proper. Or if there are 
marginal membranes to the long toes and a horny 
shield upon the head at the base of the bill (see d and 
e), the bird is still in the Rar group, and is a coot (toe 
membranes lobed) or a gallinule (toes with straight 
margins). All are skulking swamp haunters, but the 
last swim and dive readily, especially the coots. 
(19) But if the wing is long, narrow, and pointed, 
with the first quill as long as the next ones, or else 
the bill long, slim, and soft-tipped, or if the foot 
is membrane without any shield upon the forehead, 
or if the bill is spoon-shaped at the tip, or is long, 
keen, and bent down or up (or one side in one Old- 
Some typical ploverine bills. 
World specimen), and the length is less than twenty- 
six inches, you can set your bird down as one of the 
PLover forms. ) 
In many of these the rear toe is wanting, and in 
all, when present, it is much elevated. In only one 
real plover (not snipes, sandpipers, etc.) is there any 
rear toe. 
(20) Now, if the legs are feathered to the joints 
and the bill never like a woodcock’s, you have left 
