KEV TO FAMILIES. 



47 



Fig. 25. 



Ox^er IX. Linucolse. — Phalaropes, Snipes, Plovers, etc. 



Toes four, or (Tlovers; three; the hind toe, when present, less than half 

 the length of the inner one, and always elevated above the others ; legs 

 generally long and slender, the lower half of the tibiae bare ; bill, except 

 in the Plovers, generally long, slender, and soft, the nostrils opening 

 through slits or grooves ; wings long and pointed, the first primary gen- 

 erally the longest. 



Fig. 26. 



I. Tarsus over 3'50. . . . Family Recurrirostrid^E : Stilts and Avocets, 

 p. 149. 



II. Tarsus under 3-50. 



A. Sides of the toes with lobes or webs, v . . Family Fhalaropodidoe : 

 Phalaropes fFig. 26, a), p. 147. 



B. Sides of the toes without lobed webs. 



a. Toes four (except in the Sauderling) ; front of the tarsus with 

 transverse, more or less square, scales. . . . Family Scolopacidce : 

 Snipes, Sandpipers, etc. (Fig. 25, a, h ; Fig. 26, 6, c), p. 150. 



b. Whole lower back white, a black band across the rump. . . . 

 Family Aphrizidoe: Turnstones, etc., p. 176. 



c. Toes three Cexcept in the Black-bellied Plover) ; front of the 

 tarsus with small, rounded scales. 



c». Bill under 2*00. . . . Family Charadriidoe : Plovers (Fig. 25, 



c.d\ Fig. 26, d,e), p. 171. 

 (9. Bill over 2*00. . . . Family Ilienuxtopodidce : Oyster-catchers, 



p. 177. 



