74 BIRDS OP ILLINOIS. 



Family RECURVIROSTRID.ffi.— The Avocets axd Stilts. 



The Eecurvirostridm, in addition to the features ah'eady men- 

 tioned (see p. 19), are characterized by the excessive length of 

 the legs, with very long slender neck and subulate, elongated 

 bill. The plumage has the same dense, soft character as that 

 of the PhalaropodldiB^ FalicinoB, and Longipennes. 



Genera. 



A. Hind toe present. 



1. Keourvirostra. Anterior toes all wobbed; bill recurved. 



B. Hind toe; wanting. 



2. Himantopus. No web between middle iind inner toes, and wob between outer and 

 middle toes quite small; bill slightly upturned from the middle, cylindrical or 

 scarcely depressed; tarsus much longer than the bill. 



Genus RECXJIIVIIIOSTRA Linn^us. 



liecnrvirostra Llnn. Syst. Nat. ed, 10, i. 17iS. 151. Type, B. avosetta Linn. 



Chab. Hind toe rudimentary, but distinct; anterior toes united by a much emarglnated 

 membrane. Bill depressed, decidedly recurved, extended into a line point, which is slightly 

 deourved. Tail covered by the wings. 



The species of Avocet are few in number, there being one pe- 

 culiar to North America, South Ami'rica, Australia, and Europe 

 respectively. 



Recurvirostra americana Gmol. 



AMERICAN AVOCET. 

 Popular synonyms. White Snipe (S.ill Lake Valley); Yolpor; Lawyi'r; Scooper. 

 lieciirviroslra nmcricdiin Gmei.. S. N. ed. i;t. i, 178S,ti;i3.— Wn>soN, Am. Orn.vii. ISl:!. 12i>. 



pi. 63, llg. 9.— NUTT. Man. ii, isai, 7:..— AuD. Orn. Biog. iv, 1838. 168. pi. :il8; Synop. 1839,252; 



Bu-ds Am. vi. 1SI3, 2t. pi. 353.— Baibd, Birds N. Am. 18.i8, 703; Cat. N. Xm. B. 1859, No. 



517.— CouEs. Key. I8TJ. 117; Chock List. 1873. No. 407; 2d od. 1882, No. fiOfl.— Ridgw. 



Nom. N. Am. B. ISSl, No. BtX: Man. N. Am. B. 1887, H6.-B. B. & R. Water B. N. Am. i, 



1.S84, 3(1.— A. O. U. Check Lisl. 1886. No. 22^. 

 Rt'curinrostra occidentaUs Vni. Zool. Jour, iv, 1829, .356 ; Zool. Voy. Blossom, 1839, 28, pi 



12.— Cass. lUustr. B. Cal., To.\., etc., 1855, 232, pi, 40 (=winter plumage!). 



