xiv Introduction. 



FAMILY CHAR \i>kiivt;. T/u- I'lows. The 

 Plovers live on the shore ; bodies, round ; bills, 

 slender, of variable length ; feathers, compact ; 

 wings, long and sharp ; tail, stiff, short, and 

 broad ; legs, slender and delicate, and corres- 

 pond with the bill and proportions ; plumage, 

 brownish-black, with circular spots. 



FAMILY SCOLOPACID^:. 77/6' Snipes. The 

 Snipes have full and round bodies, large head 

 and eyes, short and rounded wings, and short 

 legs. The tail has twelve feathers. 



The Sub-Family Tringince, embraces the 

 Sandpipers, who have rather long bills. The 

 wings are long and pointed. 



The Sub-Family Toianin^ have the bill as 

 long as the head, or longer ; the toes are gene- 

 rally connected by a basal membrane ; wings, 

 long ; legs, long and strong ; tail, slightly 

 rounded. 



ORDER VI. NATATORES or SWIMMERS. 



Birds of this Order are especially fitted for 

 aquatic life, and comprise the Ducks, Geese, 

 Swans, Cormorants, Gulls, Grebes, Loons, and 

 Terns ; Petrels, Auks, Sheldrakes, Gannets, 

 Guillemots, and Puffins. 



