KEY TO FAMILIES 



Order IX. Limieolse. PHALAROPES, SNIPES, PLOVERS, etc. 



Long-legged, often slender-billed 'Shore-birds,' usually less than a 

 foot in length, which frequently utter piping whistles in flight or as 

 they take wing; toes four or (Plovers) three; the hind-toe, when present, 

 less than half the length of the inner, and always elevated; bill soft; 

 nostrils opening through slits or grooves; wings long and pointed, 

 tertials much elongated. 



FIG. 43. 



1. Tarsus over 3*50; noisy, conspicuous, black and white or black, 



and white and brown birds. . . . Family Recuvirostridce: 

 AVOCETS (Fig. 12) and STILTS, p. 241. 



2. Tarsus under 3'50. 



A. Toes lobate (Fig. 43 a). . . . Family Phalaropodida: PHALAR- 



OPES, p. 239. 



B. Toes not lobate (Fig. 43, b, c, d, e}. 



a. Front of tarsus with square, transverse scales (Fig. 43, b, c); 



toes four except in the Sanderling. 



a 1 . Whole lower back white, a black band across the rump; 

 bill short, stout and slightly recurved. . . . Family 

 Aphrizida: SURF BIRDS and TURNSTONES, p. 268. 



b 1 . Whole lower back not white; bill a probe, softer, pro- 

 portionately longer, not recurved (Fig. 42, a, 6) . . . 

 Family Scolopacidce: SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, etc., p. 242. 



b. Front of tarsus with rounded scales; toes three (except in 



Black-bellied Plover). (Fig. 43, d, e.) 

 b 1 . Bill under 2'00 (Fig. 42, c, d) Family Charadriida:: 



PLOVERS, p. 263. 

 6 s . Bill over 2'00. . . , Family Hcematopodidce: OYSTER- 



CATCHEIIS, p. 2Q$. 



