GRALLATORES I RECURVIROSTRID^. 



255 



gated with black, dark rufous, 



and white ; the abdomen, under 



wing, and tail-coverts, rump, and 



back, white ; the head and neck 



above generally white, with spots 



and stripes of brownish black 



on the crown and occiput ; the 



throat is white with a black 



stripe on each side connecting Turnstone, s. interns, niig. 



with a black patch on the breast. 



The Black Turnstone, 5. melanocephala, Vig., of West- 

 ern North America, is darker than the preceding one. 



RECURVIROSTRID.E, OR AVOSET FAMILY. This Fam- 

 ily comprises birds which are at once distinguished by 

 their excessively elongated legs, long and slender neck, 

 and long and slender bill. 



The Genus Recurvirostra has the bill extended into a 

 fine point, and recurved at the tip, and toes webbed. 



The American Avoset, R. americana, Gm., of all North 

 America, is seventeen inch- 

 es long, the wing about 

 eight and a half inches ; the 

 head and neck pale reddish- 

 brown ; back, wing-coverts, 

 and quills, black; other parts 

 white. 



The Genus Himantopus 

 has the bill nearly straight. 

 It is represented by the 

 Black-necked Stilt, H. ni- 

 gricollis, Vieill., of North 

 America, which is fourteen 

 inches long, the wing about 

 eight and a half inches. 



Fig. 134- 



Black-necked Stilt, H. nigricollis, Vieill. 



PHALAROPID^:, OR PHALAROPE FAMILY. This Family 



