263 



PHALAROPES. 



THE next form we have to notice is that of the Pha- 

 laropes or Natatorial Sandpipers, a group of very 

 limited extent, but showing beautifully a connection 

 of their own sub-family, both with the Natatores, and 

 with the more aquatic members of the Rallidw. Their 

 form is that of the true Tringce, but their feet show 

 an advance to the webbed structure, by the naked 

 fringes lining the toes, while their plumage some- 

 what resembles that of the aquatic birds by its 

 compactness. The seasonal changes are from grey 

 to red or chestnut. They are chiefly northern in 

 locality, breed on the sea shores, and freely swim 

 or take to the water, occasionally roaming to some 

 distance from shore. Two genera have been given 

 to these birds by modern writers ; we shall give the 

 characters of both ; but it is probable that they may 

 with propriety be resolved into one. 



PHALAROPUS, Brisson. Generic characters 



Bill nearly angular at -he base, and strong, de- 

 pressed ; mandible dilated towards the tip, after- 

 wards rather suddenly accuminated, and at the 

 point deflected over the maxilla, grooved for the 

 whole length ; tongue short, blunt at the tip ; 

 nostrils nearly basal, semi-lateral, oval, sur- 

 rounded by a membrane; wings of mean 

 length, and as in T ring a, small spurious quill, 

 pointed and possessing rigidity; legs compa- 



