S46 



Falcinellus*. 



Falcinelles have a bill somewhat more arcuated than that of the Co- 

 corli ; the thumb, moreover, is deficient. 



One species only is known, Scol. pygmcea, L., a native of Africa, 

 but which" has sometimes been seen in Europe. 



Machetes f, Cuv. 



The RufFs are true Sandpipers in their bill and carriage; the mem- 

 brane between their external toes, however, is nearly as extensive as in 

 Totanus, Limosa, &c. 



One species only is known, the Tringa pugnax, L., Enl. 305, 

 306. (The RufF.) It is somewhat smaller than a snipe, and cele- 

 brated for the furious combats which take place among the males in 

 the nuptial season. At this period the head is partly covered with 

 red papillae, the neck is surrounded with a thick collar of feathers, 

 so variously arranged and coloured, and projecting in such fantastic 

 positions, that no two individuals can be found alike ; even before 

 this epoch there is so much diversity in their plumage, that many 

 imaginary species have been described by naturalists [f. Their feet 

 are always yellowish, which, with their bill and their semi-palmated 

 external toes, furnish a mark which may assist us to recognize them. 

 This bird, common to the whole north of Europe, is also found on 

 the coast of France, particularly in the spring, but it does not build 

 there (a). 



There are some small birds in America resembling the Sandpipers, 

 whose feet are semi-palmated anteriorly (the Hemipalama, Bonap.); 

 Tringa semi-palmata, Wils., VII, Ixiii, 4; Tringa brevirostris, 

 Spix, xciii. 

 It appears that it is near the Sandpipers we must place the 



EURINORHYNCHUS, WilsOn. 



Which is distinguished from them by its depressed bill, widened at 

 the end almost like that of the Spoonbill, the only known species of 

 which, 



Platalea pygmcea, L. ; Eurinorhynchus griseus, Wils., Thunb., 

 Acad., Suec, pi. VI, is one of the rarest in existence, for only a 

 single individual has been found: it is grey above, white beneath, 

 and hardly as large as a Pelidna. 



* Vieillot has changed this name into Erolia. It is not, as has been asserted, 

 destitute of a thumb. 



f Greek, Machetes, pugnator. Greek, Pelidnos, fuscus. 



X The Chevalier varie, BuflF., Sp. IV; Briss. V, pi. xvii, 2, {Tringa litlorea, L.; 

 Tringa ochrapus, B.; littorea, Gm.). The Chevalier, properly so called, Buff. Esp. 

 II, Briss. V, pi. xvii, fig. 1, quoted by Gmel. under Scol. calidris; the true Sand- 

 piper, Briss. V, pi. XX, fig. 1, {Tringa calidris, Gm.): the birds of Frisch, pi. 238, are 

 all ruffs in different states of plumage, many other varieties of wliich might still be 

 represented. 



According to Meyer, the Tringa grenovicensis, Lath, is also a young Ruff. 



(a) 



A true Ruffvi-as shot on Long Island in May 1830. 



