44 PLUVIALIN^E. 



FAMILY XXXIV. PLUVIALIN^l. PLUVIA- 

 LINE BIRDS, OR PLOVERS. 



The species of which this family is composed have a 

 manifest mutual resemblance, and are directly connected 

 with the Otinse on the one hand, and the Tringinse on 

 the other. They are generally of small size, many of 

 them very diminutive ; and have a moderately full, or 

 somewhat slender body, of an ovate, more or less com- 

 pressed form, rather short or moderate neck, and ohlong 

 or roundish head, which is always elevated and rounded 

 in front, like that of the Pigeons. Bill generally about 

 the length of the head, but varying greatly, straight or 

 very slightly recurvate, slender, tapering, compressed, 

 blunt ; upper mandible with its outline straight and slight- 

 ly declinate for half its length, then convex or bulging 

 toward the end, the nasal groove extending about two- 

 thirds of its length ; lower mandible with the angle mo- 



o * o 



derately long and narrow, the dorsal line ascending and 

 a little convex. Both mandibles internally moderately 

 concave. Mouth extremely narrow ; tongue short or of 

 moderate length, fleshy, narrow, emarginate and papillate 

 at the base, flattish above, pointed ; oesophagus narrow, 

 without dilatation ; proventriculus oblong ; gizzard large, 

 elliptical, compressed, its muscles very large and distinct, 

 the epithelium dense, with prominent rugse ; intestine of 

 moderate length and width ; coeca rather long, subcylin- 

 drical. Trachea uniform, a little depressed, with a single 

 pair of inferior laryngeal muscles. Eyes generally large, 

 eyelids densely feathered. Nostrils subbasal, lateral, 

 linear. Aperture of ear roundish and moderate. Legs 

 long and slender ; tibia bare below ; tarsus long, or mo- 

 derate, a little compressed, reticulated all round, or scu- 

 tellate in front ; toes small, rather short, the hind toe 

 wanting or very small, the anterior toes spreading, scu- 

 tellate, more or less webbed at the base ; claws small, 



