356 VERTEBRATA. AVES. 



beautiful crested Lapwing or Peewit, (C. Fanelltts,) 

 is another. This latter, however, has a small hind 

 toe. 



One of the most remarkable birds of this group 

 is the Stilt Plover, (Himantopus * Melanopterus^) 

 whose extreme length and slenderness of leg and 

 foot render the action of walking painful and diffi- 

 cult. Of one mentioned by White, which weighed 

 but four ounces and a quarter, the limbs measured 

 from the commencement of the naked part to the 

 ground, eight inches ; added to which it has no back 

 toe. It is unfortunately so very rare, that its man- 

 ners, which must be highly interesting, are almost 

 unknown : it is believed, however, to wade much 

 in deep water. 



Recurvirostra^ the Avocet. 



This is a singular form ; to the general appear- 

 ance of the Plovers it adds the feet of the Palmi- 

 pedes, being webbed nearly to the ends of the toes. 

 The beak also is curved in an upward direction at 

 the point. The birds of this genus, which are few 

 in number, appear to be very aquatic in their habits, 

 and are said to feed not by boring, but by scooping 

 in shallow water. The four species known belong 

 respectively to Europe, Asia, America, and Aus- 

 tralia. 



* 'Iftas, himas, a thong, and vov? , pous, a foot, 

 f* MJA.WJ, melas, black, and tfrigov, pteron, a wing. 

 Recurvo, to bend back, and rostrum, the beak. 



