GRALLATORI<E. 147 



VANELLUS, Bechslein. TRINGA, Linnaus. 



The Lapwings have the same kind of beak as the Plovers, and are only dis- 

 tinguished from them by the presence of a thumb ; but it is so small that it 

 cannot reach the ground. In the first tribe, that of the lapwing plovers (Squat- 

 arola, Cuv.j it is even scarcely visible. They are distinguished by the bill, 

 which is inflated underneath, the nasal fossae being short like that of the QEdi- 

 cnemus. The feet are reticulated ; all those of France have the tail striped 

 with white and black, forming, it is supposed, only one species, whose great 

 diversity of plumage has occasioned its multiplication. They are generally 

 found with the plovers. 



The True Lapwings have a more decidedly marked thumb, and tarsi partially 

 scutellated. They are equally industrious in the pursuit of worms as the 

 plovers, and they procure them by the same means. 



H^EMATOPUS, Linnaeus*. 



The Oyster-catchers have a somewhat longer beak than the plovers or the 

 lapwings ; it is straight, pointed, compressed into a wedge, and sufficiently 

 strong to enable them to force open the bivalve shells of the animals on 

 which they feed. They also seek for worms in the earth. Their legs are 

 of a moderate length, their tarsi reticulated, and their feet divided into 

 three toes. 



It is impossible to avoid placing near the Plovers and Oyster-catchers, the 



CURSORIUS, Lacepede. 



Whose beak more slender, but equally conical, is arcuated, has no groove > 

 and is moderately cleft; the wings are shorter; and their legs, which are 

 longer, are terminated by three toes without membranes and without a 

 thumb. 



As far as we can judge from their exterior, it is here that we can most 

 conveniently place the 



MICRODACTYLUS, Geoffroy. -DicHOLOPHUs, Illiger^. 



Whose beak is longer and more hooked, the commissure extending under the 

 eye, which gives them something of the physiognomy and disposition of birds 

 of prey, and approximates them somewhat to the herons. Their extremely 

 long and scutellated legs are terminated by very short toes, slightly palmated 

 at base, and by a thumb which cannot reach the ground. 



One species only is known, and that is from South America, the Micro, cris- 

 tatus, Geoff. It is larger than the heron, and feeds on lizards and insects, 

 which it hunts for on high grounds and along the edges of forests. 



* Blood-coloured feet. 



f Microdactylus, short-finger. Dicholophus, crest in two rows. 



L "2 ' 



