244 AVES : LIMICOL^;. xxxvm. 



384. RECURVIROSTRA Linnseus. (Lat. recurvus, bent 

 upward; rostrum, beak.) 



753. R. americana Gmelin. AVOCET. BLUE STOCKING. 

 White, with cinnamon brown on head and neck, the wings mostly- 

 black ; legs blue. L. 18. W. 8J. T. 34. B. 3. Ts. 3f. N. Am. 



385. HIMANTOPUS Brisson. (ipavronovs, strap-leg.) 



754. H. mexicanus (Miiller). STILT. LONG SHANKS. LAW- 

 YER. Glossy black above, white below ; tail ashy; 9 slaty; legs 

 pink. L. 15. W. 9. T. 3. Ts. 4. B. 2J. N. Am. 



FAMILY CXLV. SCOLOPACID^J. (THE SNIPE.) 

 Bill elongated, usually longer than the head ; if short, not plover- 

 like, being soft-skinned throughout (hard when dry) ; nasal grooves 

 in the form of narrow channels ranging from half to nearly the 

 whole length of the bill ; sides of lower mandible usually also 

 grooved; nostrils narrow exposed slits; head feathered. Wings 

 usually thin and pointed; tail short and soft; tibia rarely entirely 

 feathered. Tarsus never entirely reticulate and usually scutellate 

 in front and behind ; hind toe present (except in Calidris') ; front 

 toes cleft or slightly webbed ; size medium or small. Sexes alike 

 or female slightly larger; seasonal changes in plumage often 

 strongly marked. Eggs usually four, placed with the small ends 

 together in a slight nest or depression in the ground ; notes vari- 

 ous; mostly migratory or gregarious. Genera about 20; species 

 100 ; chiefly of northern regions, but not wanting in most parts of 

 the world. (<TKoAo7ra, snipe.) 



a. Tarsus scutellate behind as well as in front; bill not strongly decurved. 

 b. Eyes far back, directly above the ears; bill long; tip of upper mandible 



thickened; plumage unchanging. (Scolopacince.) 



c. Tibia entirely feathered ; 3 outer primaries attenuate ; toes not webbed. 



PHILOHELA, 386, 



cc. Tibia naked below; no attenuate primaries. . . . GALLINAGO, 387. 

 bb. Eyes not far back, considerably before the ears; tip of upper mandible 



thin ; summer and winter plumage different. ( Tringince.) 

 d. Toes not webbed at all (or with a single minute web). 



e. Hind toe wanting CALIDRIS, 392. 



ee. Hind toe present. 

 f. Bill not shorter than middle toe with claw; (inner webs of quills 



not mottled) TRINGA, 390. 



ff. Bill shorter than middle toe with claw; (inner webs ot quills 



mottled) TRYNGITES, 397. 



dd. Toes more or less webbed at base. 



g. Tail graduated, more than half wing. . . BARTRAMIA, 396. 

 gg. Tail not more than half wing, little graduated. 

 h. Tail longer than bill (from frontal feathers); gape reaching 

 beyond base of culmen. 



