27 



gularly combine features of such diverse types as Rails and Grebes. 

 (See Cases I and N.) 



Order XIII, Limicolce^ is, numerically, a very large group, num- 

 bering twelve families and several hundred species. It consists 

 largely of shore and marsh birds, and includes the Sheath-bills 

 {C/iiomdidiB), Quail-Plovers {Thinocorida), Pratincoles {Glareo- 

 lidcz), Oyster-catchers [HcRtnatopodidce), Surf-birds and Turnstones 

 {AphrizidcB), Plovers and Lapwings i^Charadriidce), Jaganas ^Jac- 

 anidcE), the Snipes, Woodcocks, Curlews, Sandpipers, etc. {Scolo- 

 pacidcz), Stilts and Avocets {RecurvirostridcB), Phalaropes {Fhala- 

 ropodidce), Thick-knees {(Edicne?iiid(B), and Bustards {Otididce). 



The Sheath-bills are a somewhat isolated group, consisting of 

 two species, inhabiting chiefly the Kerguelen and Crozets Islands, 

 off the southern extremity of South America. Their nearest 

 affinities are considered to be with the Plovers, although they also 

 somewhat resemble the Gulls. Their plumage is pure white. 

 The Quail-Plovers consist of half-a-dozen species, forming the 

 genera Thinocorus and Attagis, inhabiting southern South America. 

 As their name implies, they are Plover-like birds with certain re- 

 semblances to the Quails. (See Case N.) The Oyster-catchers, 

 Surf-birds, and Turnstones (Cases D, I, and N) are each small 

 groups, so closely related to the Plovers as to be sometimes com- 

 bined with them in the same family. They are all strictly shore 

 birds of wide distribution. The common Turnstone is one of the 

 few birds occurring in all parts of the world. The Plovers (includ- 

 ing the Lapwings and Spur-winged Plovers) are found commonly 

 about the shores of inland rivers and lakes as well as of the sea, 

 some of them, however, inhabiting dry plains. They are mostly 

 plainly colored, but some display metallic tints. They are 

 generally birds of wide distribution. (See Cases E, I, and N.) 



The Jaganas are tropical birds, occurring in both hemispheres. 

 They are remarkable for their long toes, and some of the species 

 have large naked wattles about the base of the bill. The Snipes, 

 Curlews, and Sandpipers constitute the most numerous family of 

 the order ; they are found all over the world, and usually affect 

 sea-shores and river-banks or moist swampy ground, a few only 

 prefering drier or even woody situations. They vary in size from 



