162 THE WORLD'S BIRDS. 



ECONOMIC QUALITIES. They are useful in destroying 

 small vermin, and do no harm at all. Some species 

 are good eating. 



CAPTIVITY. They live well in confinement, but are 

 not often kept, and have not bred in this state. 



DISTRIBUTION AND IMPORTANT SPECIES. Warm and 

 temperate regions all round the world, except in 

 North America and New Zealand. There are about 

 a dozen species. They are usually resident, and 

 generally haunt dry places. Our migratory species, 

 the Stone-curlew or Norfolk Plover ((Edicnemus 

 cedicnemus), ranges widely across the Old World ; 

 in India it is known as Bastard Florican. In the 

 latter country a large species, the Great Stone- 

 Plover (Esacus magnirostris), is common, haunting 

 river banks. It is plain drab, with very large bill 

 and eyes. In Australia the most familiar represen- 

 tative is the long-legged Burhinus grallarius, and 

 in $outh Africa the Dikkop ((Edicnemus capensis). 

 The species illustrated ((E. bistriatus) is one of 

 the largest. 



TINAMOUS (Tinamida}. 



DIAGNOSIS. Partridge-like birds with nostrils in middle 

 of bill and no webs at base of toes. 



SIZE. From that of a hen-pheasant to that of a thrush. 



FORM. Bill short to rather long, with central 

 nostrils, and sheath divided into pieces by 

 grooves ; corner of mouth below eye, tongue 

 very short ; eye with eyelashes ; feet with 

 shanks of medium length and three short toes 

 not united at the base by webs, and usually a 

 small useless hind-toe ; wings short and rounded ; 

 tail not noticeable, of small soft feathers. Head 



