of the United States. 299 



mollusca, &c. Male and female remarkably faithful to each 

 other. Lay in sand holes or in the grass ; eggs about four. 

 Flight very swift. 



Inhabit both continents : composed of but one species. 



222. Strepsius interpres. 111. Throat, rump, and base of 

 the tail, white ; bill black ; feet red. 



Adult, varied with black, white and ferruginous; breast 

 black ; belly white. 



Young, cinereous-brown varied with white ; breast whitish. 



Turn-stone, Tringa interpres, Wils. Am. Orn. vii. p. 32. 

 pi. 57. fig. i. adult. 



Inhabits all parts of the world. 



44. HiEMATOPUS. 



Hcematopus, L. Gm. Lath. III. Cuv. Temm. Vieill. Ranz. 

 Ostralega, Briss. 



Bill longer than the head, robust, straight, cuneate, and 

 much compressed at tip ; upper mandible flattened above 

 to the middle : nostrils basal, lateral, placed in a short fur- 

 row, linear, pervious : tongue short, entire : eyelids naked. 

 Feet moderate, three-toed ; bare space of the tibia mode- 

 rate ; tarsus somewhat longer than the middle toe, robust, re- 

 ticulated ; toes short, thick, scutulate, (covered with scales) 

 scabrous beneath, colligated, bordered by a rough warty 

 edge ; outer toes connected at base by a membrane ; the 

 inner membrane rudimental : nails short, tile-shaped, curved, 

 acute. Wings sub-elongated, acute ; first primary longest. 

 Tail slightly rounded, of twelve feathers. 



Female similar to the male. Young differing but little 

 from the adult, at first covered with grayish down. Moult 

 twice in the year, the plumage changing slightly, but con- 

 stantly. Color black, or blackish, with more or less of 

 white. 



Shy : solitary, or in small parties. Live on sea shores, 

 rocks, sandy beaches, &c. Running in and following the 



