AVEs. 577 



Genus 4.— HIMANTOPUS.— ^/wora. 



Generic Character. — Bill long, sleuder, retrousse, depressed at the base, 

 and compressed at tip ; mandibles laterally grooved about half their length ; 

 nostrils lateral, linear, oblong; legs very long and slender; feet with three 

 anterior toes, the middle one united by a broad membrane to the inner toe 

 by a rudimentary one ; claws small and flat; wings very long, the first quill 

 lunger than the rest. 



Hiyrtantopus melanopterus. — Black. Winged Long Shank. Plate xl*. fig. 6. 

 Crown, back of the liead, neck, back, and wings, iridescent-black ; nape and 

 occiput spotted with white ; tail ash-coloured ; face, neck, and under parts, 

 white with a rosy tint. Fourteen inches long. Inhabits Europe. 



Gemwo.— H^EMATOPUS.— L8«;i<rci«s. 



Generic Character.— ?>\\\. long, robust, channelled, compressed, point cunei- 

 form and much compressed ; nostrils lateral, situated in the channel ; legs 

 stout and muscular ; feet with three anterior toes only, the exterior one 

 united to the middle one the length of first joint ; interior toe marginated 

 by a rudimentary membrane ; wings extending to the end of the tail, the 

 first quill longest. 



Hcematopus ostralegus. — Oyster Catcher. Plate xli. fig. 6. Upper parts 

 and tail deep black ; rump, middle wing feathers, breast, abdomen, and cris. 

 sum, wliite ; ophthalmic region, bill, and legs, orange. Fifteen and a half 

 inches long. Inhabits European coasts. 



Genus 6.— CHARADRIUS.— i«?m(EMi. 



Generic Character. — Bill somewhat shorter than the head, slender, 

 straight, and compressed ; mandibles gibbous, and subconic towards the 

 point ; nostrils situated in the nasal furrow ; legs slender ; tibia half naked ; 

 feet with three anterior toes, the exterior one connected with the middle toe 

 by a short membrane, the interior one quite free ; tail slightly rounded or 

 straight; wings as long as the tail, the second quill longest. 



Cliaradrius pluvialis. — Golden Plover. Plate xli. fig. 6. Described, vol. 

 iii. p. 349. 



Sub-Diviaion II.— Feet furnished with four toes. 

 Getius 7.— VANELLUS.— .Braion. 

 Generic Character. — Bill short, slender, straight, slightly gibbous towards 

 the point ; nostrils lateral, and cleft longitudinally ; legs sleuder ; tibia half 

 naked ; feet with three toes before and one behind, the central toe connected 

 with the external one by a short membrane ; the hallux very short, or rudi- 

 mentary, placed higher than the toes ; wings longer than the tail, the third 

 and fourth quills longest. 



Vanellus cristate*.— Lapwing. Plate xlii. fig. 1. Described, vol. iii. p. 331. 



Genus 8.-STREPSILAS.— 7«ig-er. 

 Generic Character.— 'EiW of medium size, subconic, straight, strong at the 

 base, slightly retrousse, a little truncated and hard at tip; ridge depressed ; 

 nostrils basal, lateral, partly closed by a membrane ,- legs strong ; tibia partly 

 naked above the knee ; feet with three toes before and one behind, the ante, 

 nor ones connected at the base by a very short membrane ; the hallux arti- 



3c3 



