(EDICNEMID^E. 203 



exceptions with only one pair o incisions. Two cai'otids are 

 always present. 



The eggs vary, but are in general pale brown or olive, and 

 double-spotted. The young are hatched covered with down and 

 able to run. 



Indian families of Limicolce are thus distinguished. 



a. Holorhinal ; nostrils pervious CEdicnemidae, p. 203. 



b. Schizorhinal *. 



'. Nostrils impervious Glareolidae, p. 209. 



b'. Nostrils pervious. 



a". No hasipterygoid processes. . . Dromadidae, p. 207. 



b" . Basipterygoid processes present. 



a 3 . Toes and claws enormously long . . Parridae, p. 207. 



b 3 . Toes and claws moderate * Charadriidae, p. 220. 



Family CEDICNEMIDAE. 



Holorhinal ; nostrils pervious ; no basipterygoid processes. 

 Cervical vertebrae 16. No hind toe. the three anterior toes united 

 by a membrane at the base ; tarsus long, reticulated all round. 

 Spinal feather-tract not forked on the upper back. Eyes very 

 large, the birds being, to a considerable extent, nocturnal. They 

 build no nest and lay on the ground two eggs, stone-coloured and 

 double-spotted. The nestling is covered with down of a sandy 

 colour with two black lines down the back. 



The Stone-Curlews or Stone-Plovers have a great resemblance 

 to Bustards, and are associated with them by some naturalists. 

 They are, however, far more nearly allied to the Plovers. Two 

 genera occur in India. 



Key to the Genera. 



a. Bill not longer than head, and not compressed . (EDICNEMUS, p. 20o. 



b. Bill much longer than head and compressed . . ESACUS, p. 205. 



Genus (EDICNEMUS, Temm., 1815. 



Bill shorter than the head, stout, straight, broader at the base 

 than high ; nostrils elongate, in a shallow groove-like depression : 

 eyes very large ; forehead high ; wing long, pointed, 2nd primary 



- Pluvianus is an exception, but it is not Indian. The figures on the opposite 

 page are intended to show the difference between holorhinal and schizorhinal 

 structure. In the former the external hiuder border of the osseous nares is 

 simple and usually rounded ; in the latter the orifice is prolonged posteriorly, 

 and terminates in a narrow fissure between the processes of the nasal boned. 

 This fissure varies in length and direction in different birds. 



