87 



Genus — GALLINAGO. — Tarsus not so long as middle toe and claw. 



638. G. ailStralis, Lath., Snipe. 



Subterminal tail band red ; crown has a long pale mesial stripe ; 

 outer or first secondaries not exceeding the primary coverts, their 

 tips being in a line with each other ; axillaries with the black and 

 Avhite bars about equal in length. Culmen, 2'7 in. 

 Hab. : 1 to 9. 



Genus — ROSTRATULA. — Tarsus equal to middle toe and claw. Bill not 

 perceptibly widened at end, nor pitted ; tip decurved. 



639. R australis, Gld. (Rhynch^a australis), Painted Snipe. 



Female. — Buff stripe down centre of head ; circle round eye and 

 stripe off it white ; head and chest brown to black ; under surface 

 white. 



Male. — Breast lighter and variegated. 



Total length, male 9 5 in., culmen I'l in., wing 5'5 in., tail 1 9 in., 

 tarsus 1 "5 in.; female 9"5 in., culmen 1"7 in., wing 5"9 in., tail 

 1"S in., tarsus 1"7 in. 



Hab. : 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9. 



Genus — CALIDRIS. — No hind toe. Tarsus and culmen equal in length. 



640. C. arenaria, Linn., Sanderling. 



Winter Plumage. — Sides of the lower back and rump white ; 

 upper tail coverts blackish, edged and tipped with white, the lateral 

 ones entirely white ; white band across wing (greater coverts) ; 

 crown of head and back with tiny dusky centres ; broad frontal 

 band ; lores, eyebrows, sides of face, and under surface of body pure 

 white. 



Total length, 7 in. ; culmen, I'o in. ; wing, 4 To in. ; tail, 1"8 in. ; 

 tarsus, 9 in. ; middle toe and claw, 9 in. 

 Hab. : 1, 4. 



ORDER— GAVIiE. 



Front toes entirely connected by webs. Palate schizogoathous ; nasals 

 schizorhinal. Primaries, ten large and visible, one minute and 

 concealed. Rectrices twelve. 



FAMILY— LARID^. 



Bill without a cere. Sternum with two notches on each side of posterior 

 margin. Claws feeble or moderate. 



Sub-family — Sternin^. 



Bill straight, rather slender ; both mandibles of about equal length. 



Genus— HYDROCHELIDON.— Tail feathers rounded or slightly pointed ; 

 tail short, less than half length of wing. 



641. H. hybrida, Pall. (H. fluviatilis, Gld.), Marsh Tern. 



Forehead, crown, and nape deep black ; greyish-black on abdomen 

 and flanks ; bill and feet blood-red. 



Total length, 11 in. ; culmen, 1"4 in. ; wing, 9 "5 in. ; tail, 3S in.; 

 tarsus, 0'9 in. 



Hab. : 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9. 



642. H, leilCOptera, Brisson, White-winged Tern. 



Summer Plumage. — Black or dark grey below. 

 Winter Plumage and Young. — White below ; tail white. 

 Total length, 93 in. ; culmen, 1.1 in. ; wing, 82 in. ; tail, 3'1 in.; 

 tarsus, 0"75 in. ; middle toe with claw, 1 in. 



Hab. : 1, 2, in winter, extra Australian in summer. (Doubtful 

 visitor. ) 



