122 BIRDS. 



FAMILY LIL ILEMATOPODID^E. 



(The Turnstones.) 



Bill hard, acute, or truncate; nasal fossae short, broad, 

 and shallow. Legs short, stout, brightly colored. Genera 

 two, not much alike; species six or eight; in most parts 

 of the world. 



* Toes 3, webbed at base ; tarsus reticulate, shorter than the trun- 



cate, compressed, almost woodpecker-like bill. 



H^EMATOPUS, 1. 



** Toes 4, not webbed ; tarsus scutellate in front, as long as the 

 sharp, pointed bill STREPSILAS, 2. 



1. HSEMATOPUS, Linnaeus. OYSTER CATCHERS. 



1. H. palliatus, Temminck. OYSTER CATCHER. Ashy 

 brown and blackish, mostly white below; L. 18; W. 10; 

 T. 4; B. 3. Coasts. 



2. STREPSILAS, Linnaeus. TURNSTONES. 



1. S. interpres, (L.) Illiger. TURNSTONE. Variegated; 

 black, white, brown, and chestnut above; mostly white 

 below; no reddish in winter; L. 8; W. 6; T. 2J. 

 Cosmopolitan; abundant. 



FAMILY LIIL RECURVIROSTRnLE. 



(The Awcets.) 



Legs excessively long. Bill very slender, long, acute, 

 often recurved. Genera three, species eight; in most 

 parts of the world. Himantopus is said to have the 

 longest legs relatively of any bird. 



* Toes 4, full webbed ; bill recurved, flattened, tapering to a needle- 



like point; plumage beneath thickened as in ducks; swim- 

 mers RECUR VIIIOSTRA, 1. 



** Toes 3, semipalmate ; bill nearly straight, not flattened. 



HIMANTOPUS, 2. 



