MANUAL OF NATURAL HISTORY. 49 



1. FAMILY. Plovers (Charadriidae). Bill variable 



in length, basal half soft and weak, apical 

 part hard, with culmen generally somewhat 

 elevated and curved to tip, which is more or 

 less pointed ; nasal groove deep, extending 

 about half the length of the bill ; tarsi more 

 or less lengthened ; toes connected at then- 

 base by a membrane, hind toe small or 

 wanting ; wings long and pointed ; tail 

 generally broad and even. 



The Oyster-catchers (Hcematopodince) have 

 the bill long, much compressed, and trun- 

 cate. 



2. FAMILY. Herons (Ardeidse). Bill long, more 



or less slender, compressed, pointed ; long 

 much depressed and spatuliform, long slen- 

 der and arcuated, or short with culmen 

 curved to tip ; tarsi long and slender ; toes 

 lengthened and furnished with acute curved 

 claws ; neck long and slender ; back gene- 

 rally much arched ; wings usually rounded ; 

 tail mostly short and even. 



3. FAMILY. Snipes (Scolopacidse). Bill more or 



less lengthened, slender, generally obtuse, 

 straight, arcuated or recurved, soft for a 

 considerable portion of its length ; culmen 

 sometimes curved at tip j upper mandible 

 grooved to near tip, which is sometimes 

 dilated ; nostrils basal, placed in groove ; 

 tarsi variable in length, slender; toes more 

 or less connected by a membrane ; wings 



