136 GRALLATORES. TRINGA, TRINGA. 



middle tail-feathers barred with greyish-black and buff; 

 the outer ones uniform greyish-black ; but with the tips 

 of the whole pale buff. Legs and toes greenish-grey ; 

 with the knees thick, indicating a bird of the year. In 

 this state it answers to the synonyms quoted as belong- 

 ing to the young. The Yellow-legged Sandpiper of 

 MONTAGU seems to refer to the winter plumage of the 

 old Ruff. 



GENUS TRINGA, AUCTOR. TRINGA. 



GENERIC CHARACTERS. 



BIT.L of the same length as, or longer than, the head, 

 straight, or slightly arched, compressed at the base, the tip 

 blunt, smooth, and dilated, semi-flexible throughout its 

 length, and with both mandibles furrowed as far as the 

 smooth bulb or tip. 



Nostrils lateral, linear-oblong, placed near the base of the 

 bill in the membrane that covers the groove. 



Wings of mean length, acuminate, having the first quill- 

 feather the longest. 



Legs of mean length, slender, more or less naked above 

 the tarsal joint. Feet four-toed, three before and one behind. 

 The anterior ones divided, and fringed with a small lateral 

 membrane. The hind toe small, articulated upon the tar- 

 sus, and barely touching the ground with its tip. 



Plumage soft, close, and adpressed. 



Under this generic title I include all the species contained 

 in the first section of the genus Trmga, as described by 

 Mons. TEMMINCK in his u Manuel d'Ornithologie," as well 

 as some others given by different authors, which possess the 

 essential characters of the group. This arrangement I am 

 induced to adopt for the present, from not being satisfied 



