GRALLiE — KECURVIROSTRID^E — HIMANTOPUS. 2G5 



FAMILY RECURVIROSTRIDJE. 



Neck, bill and feet much elongated. The bill twice the length of the head, more or less re- 

 curved from the tip. Nostrils in the furrow, basal, linear, pervious. Toes three or four. 

 Hind toe, when present, very short, articulated high up, and not touching the ground. 

 Anterior toes connected by a web more or less extensive. Tibia mostly naked. Tail short, 

 of twelve feathers. Wings long and pointed. 



Obs. This family comprises about seven species, whose anomalous forms render it difficult 

 to arrange in a natural series. In some respects they are closely allied to some of the genera 

 of the family Scolopacidce, whilst in others they appear to form a natural passage between this 

 and the following order. 



GENUS HIMANTOPUS. Brisson, 



Bill much longer than the head, very slender, smooth, cylindrical, tapering and slightly re- 

 curved from the middle, not as long as the tarsus. Mandibles channelled laterally for half 

 their length. Legs unusually long and slender. Tibia very long and almost entirely naked. 

 Toes three ; the outer and middle connected by a broad membrane ; a smaller membrane 

 between the middle and inner toe. 



THE LAWYER. 



HlMANTOPUS NIGRICOLLIS. 

 PLATE LXXXVIH. FIG. 200. 



(CABINET OF THE LYCEUM.) 



Recurvirostra himantopus. Wilson, Am. Orn. Vol. 7, p. 48, pi. 58, fig. 2. 



Himantopus mexkanus, Ord's reprint, p. 52. H. nigricollis, Vieillot. Bonaparte, Ann. Lye. N. Y. Vol. 2, 



p. 322. Nuttall, Man. Orn. Vol. 2, p. 8. 

 H. id., Black-necked Still. Audubon, B. of A. Vol. 6, p. 31, pi. 354. Giraod, Birds of Long island, p. 270. 



Characteristics. White. Head, neck, back and wings above, black. Length, 14 inches. 



Description. Bill slender, slightly upturned, 3"0 long, and drooping at the tip. Tibia 

 bare for more than half its length, and, together with the tarsus, 7' 5 long. 



Color. Forehead, spot over and round the eye, cheeks, sides of the neck and all beneath 

 white. Line before and round the eye, crown, back of the neck, scapulars and wings above 

 greenish black. The stripe on the back of the neck dilated near its junction with the body. 

 Bill black. Feet red. Female and young, dark brown above. 



Length, 13-5-14-5. 



[Fauna — Part 2.J 34 



