of the United States. 321 



drius calidris, Wils. Am. Orn. vii. p. 68. pi* 59. Jig. 4. winter 

 dress. 



Inhabits all over the globe : migrating periodically along 

 the coasts of the middle states. 



52. HIMANTOPUS. 



Himantopus, Briss. 111. Cuv. Temm. Vieill. Ranz. Chara- 

 drius, L. Gm. Lath. Macrotarsus, Lacepede, Rtcurvirostra, 

 Wilson. 



Bill long, very slender, smooth, subulate, cylindrical, 

 somewhat recurved from the middle, rather depressed at base, 

 compressed and acute at the point, both mandibles furrowed 

 on each side half their length : nostrils in the furrows, 

 basal, linear, pervious : tongue short, slender, acuminate. 

 Head small; eyes very small: neck long. Feet 3 toed; 

 tibiae disproportionately long, thin, flexible, aim >st entirely 

 naked ; tarsus thrice as long as the middle toe, very slender 

 and flexible, somewhat compressed ; toes rather short, narrow, 

 flattened beneath, edged by a narrow membrane ; middle toe 

 longest, connected to the outer by a broad membrane, as far 

 as the first joint, and to the inner by a very small one: nails 

 very small, hardly compressed, rounded above, curved, 

 and rather acute at tip. Wings very long, extremely acute* 

 quills stiff; first primary much the longest. Tail short, 

 even, of twelve feathers. 



FiiMALE hardly differing from the male. Young somewhat 

 different from the adult. Moult twice in the year. 



Live in small flocks, near waters, preferring salt marshes 

 and sea-pools. Feed on insects, mollusca, Stc. which they 

 catch both in the air and mud. Breed socially, raising 

 their nest as it becomes advisable ; lay four or six eggs, 

 which they hatch standing. Fly with great rapidity and 

 steadiness, their stiffly protruded legs making up for the de- 

 ficiency of their tail as a rudder. Walk with difficulty on 

 hard ground, bending their body, on account of their weak 



