AVES. 65 



wards the tip, pointed : nostrils basal, oval, covered above 

 by a protuberant membrane: legs long and slender: toes 

 three, very short ; almost divided to their origin : claws 

 very small, the middle one serrated : wings moderate ; 

 second quill longest. 



62. GEDICNEMUS. Bill longer than the head, 

 straight, very robust, a little depressed at the base, com- 

 pressed laterally ; culm en elevated towards the tip ; lower 

 mandible angulated beneath : nostrils medial, longitudinally 

 cleft : tarsi long and slender : toes three, united by a mem- 

 brane at the base : wings moderate ; second quill longest. 



63. CHARADRIUS. Bill shorter than the head, 

 straight, slender, compressed, somewhat tumid and en- 

 larged towards the tip: nasal channel extending two- 

 thirds of its length, covered by a large membrane ; nos- 

 trils basal, linear, pierced in the membrane : tarsi moderate, 

 slender : toes three ; outer and middle ones connected by a 

 short membrane ; inner toe free : wings moderate ; first 

 quill longest. 



64. VANELLUS. Bill moderate, straight, compressed, 

 slender at the base, tumid towards the extremity ; upper 

 mandible slightly bending at the tip : nasal channel large, 

 covered by a membrane; nostrils linear, pierced in the 

 membrane : tarsi moderate, slender : toes four ; outer and 

 middle toes connected at the base; hind toe small, and 

 elevated : wings long and acuminated. 



(1. SQUATAROLA.) Nasal channel extending half the length of the 

 bill : tarsi reticulated : hind toe rudimentary : first quill longest. 



(2. VANELLUS.) Nasal channel two-thirds the length of the bill : 

 acrotarsia scutellated : hind toe moderately developed : fourth 

 and fifth quills longest. 



65. STREPSILAS. Bill moderate, strong, nearly 

 straight, forming a lengthened cone, with the culmen a 

 little depressed, and the apex subtruncated ; the commis- 

 sure slightly ascending : nasal channel half the length of 

 the bill : toes four ; the anterior ones almost entirely di- 

 vided ; hind toe moderately developed, touching the 

 ground : wings long ; first quill longest. 



E 



