Diagnoses of Families and Genera 573 



Family Phalaropodidae. The Phalaropes. A family containing three 

 species of small, lobe-footed birds of aquatic habits, at least two species 

 spending most of the year on the waters of the ocean. Three genera 

 with one species in each, Crymophilus, Phalaropus, and Steganopus. 



Family Type. Small size. Bill equal to or longer than head. Tarsus 

 greatly compressed. Legs with transverse scales. Anterior toes with 

 lateral membrane, posterior lobed. Neck long. Feathers of breast 

 compact and ducklike. 



Generic Types. Crymophilus. Bill broad, straight, and flattened. Tarsus 

 short, equal to middle toe and claw, also equal to culmen. Marginal 

 web of toes broad, scalloped at joints. 



Phalaropus. Bill slender and pointed. Tarsus longer than middle 

 toe and claw, but shorter than culmen. Marginal web on toes broad, 

 scalloped at joints. 



Steganopus. Bill long, slender, pointed. Tarsus longer than mid- 

 dle toe and claw, and equal to culmen. Marginal web narrow and 

 barely scalloped. 



Crymophilus and Phalaropus are found throughout the northern 

 hemisphere, while Steganopus is confined to America. 



Family Recurvirostridae. The Avocets and Stilts. A family of about a 

 dozen species of large birds, noticeable for their peculiar bills and 

 long, slender legs. Two genera in North America with one species in 

 each, Recurvirostra and Himantopus. 



Family Type. Size large. Bill very long and slender. Neck long. 

 Legs long and slender. Tarsus covered with hexagonal scales, smaller 

 behind. Anterior toes all somewhat connected by membrane. 



Generic Types. Recurvirostra. Bill strongly recurved. Tarsus not 

 more than twice the length of middle toe and claw. Anterior toes 

 fully webbed. Hind toe present. 



Himantopus. Bill nearly straight. Neck and legs very long. 

 Tarsus more than twice the length of middle toe and claw. Anterior 

 toes scarcely webbed and divided to the base. Hind toe absent. 



Family Scolopacidae. The Woodcocks, Snipes, Sandpipers, etc. This 

 is the largest family of the shore-birds, and of it about forty-five 

 species have been recorded from North America, and of these 

 several show geographical variation sufficient to entitle them to sub- 

 ' specific names. Most of the birds commonly known as shore-birds 

 belong to this family, and although the majority are small, a few are 

 among the largest of the Limicolse. In coloring and shape of bill 

 the species differ greatly, and those occurring in North America are 

 grouped in nineteen genera and several subgenera. 



