282 BIRDS. ALECTORIDES. 



brane, and the inner separate ; hind toe jointed on the tarsus ; 

 claws long and subulate ; wings very long. 



The birds of this genus inhabit the warm and temperate regions of the old con- 

 tinent, affecting the banks of fresh and limpid waters, and very rarely appearing on 

 the sea-shore. Their principal food is worms and very small insects. They run with 

 great agility, and are capable of long and rapid flights. 



G. torquata, Meyer. Collared Pratincole. Top of the head, nape, 

 back, scapulars, and coverts of the wings brown gray ; throat and 

 fore part of the neck reddish white, bordered by a narrow black 

 band, which rises to the corners of the bill ; space between the 

 eyes and bill black ; coverts of the tail and origin of the fea- 

 thers white ; tail blackish towards the end ; naked circle round 

 the eyes red. 9J inches long. Europe. Selby, Illust. pi. 63. 



G. grallaria, Tern. Tail almost square, longer than the wings by 

 three inches ; tibia in a great part naked ; tarsus very long ; 

 plumage above and breast bright red ; throat, abdomen, and tail- 

 coverts white ; belly chestnut ; quills black. Inhabits Austra- 

 lasia Tern. Man. 503. 



G. lactea, Tern. Tail slightly forked ; upper parts of the body and 

 wings grayish white ; quills and interior of the wings black ; 

 under parts white; tail-feathers, the exterior excepted, with 

 a black spot, their union forming a large angular space. 5| in- 

 ches long. Inhabits India. Tern. Man. 503. 



Gen. 4. PALAMEDEA, Lin. 



Bill short, conico-convex, much curved at the point, compres- 

 sed throughout its length ; nasal furrow large ; head small, 

 covered with down, and armed with a slender and flexible 

 horn ; nostrils remote from the base of the bill, lateral, oval, 

 open ; legs short, thick ; toes very long, the lateral connect- 

 ed with the intermediate by a short membrane ; wings ample, 

 and spurs on the winglets. 



P. cornuta, Lath. Kamichi or Horned Screamer. Body black- 

 ish above, white beneath ; under side of the wings reddish ; 

 bill and legs black ; irides golden ; horn three or four inches long, 

 and two or three lines thick at the base, which is inclosed in a 

 sheath ; two strong triangular spurs on each winglet. 2 feet 4 

 inches long. Inhabits S. America. Shan}, xii. pi. 35. 



Gen. 5. CHAUNA, Illig. Parra, Lin. 



Bill shorter than the head, conico-convex, slightly arched, curv- 

 ed at the tip ; base furnished with small feathers ; lores 

 naked ; nostrils oblong ; legs long, slender ; toes long, unit- 

 ed by membranes ; wings armed with two spurs. 



C. Chavaria, Tern. Body above brown ; neck and abdomen black ; 

 temples and throat white; occiput with pendant blackish fea- 

 thers. Size of the domestic cock. S. America. Shaw, xii. 272. 





