THE LONG-TAILED TATTLERS. 267 



they have the tarsus transversely plated with scales both before 

 and behind. They differ from the Snipes, however, in having 

 a distinct web connecting the base of the outer toe with that 

 of the middle one, and a smaller web connecting the inner 

 toe with the middle one, so that the toes are not distinctly 

 cleft to the base, as is the case with the Snipes and Sand- 

 pipers. 



THE LONG -TAILED TATTLERS. GENUS BARTRAMIA. 



Bartramia, Less. Traite d'Orn. p. 553 (1831). 



Type, B. longicanda (Bechst.). 



From the other Tattlers the genus Bartramia differs in the 

 following characters. The bill is short, and the tail is rather 

 long, so that the latter exceeds the length of the culmen. The 

 tarsus, on the other hand, is decidedly long, and measures more 

 than the length of the bill. The bare part of the tibia is exten- 

 sive, and is equal to half the length of the tarsus. The tail, 

 moreover, is peculiar in shape, being long and graduated, the 

 outer feathers falling short of the middle ones. There is a dis- 

 tinct thickening of the end of the bill, which has a dertral swel- 

 ling, as in the Plovers ; the feathers of the chin also are pro- 

 duced forwards, so as to extend considerably beyond the line 

 of the forehead. 



i. BARTRAM'S TATTLER. BARTRAMIA LONGICAUDA. 



Tringa longicanda, Bechst. Kiirze Uebers. Latham, p. 453, pi. 



184 (iSn). 



Actiturus longicauduS) B. O. U. List Brit. B. p. 173 (1883). 

 Bartramia longicauda, Saunders, ed. Yarrell's Brit. B. iii. p. 440 



(1884); id. Man, Brit. B. p. 589 (1889) ; Sharpe, Cat. B. 



Brit. Mus. xxiv. p. 509 (1896). 

 Totanus bartrami, Seebohm, Hist. Brit. B. iii. p. no, pi. 32 



(1885). 



Adult Male. General colour above mottled, the feathers being 

 black, with sandy-buff or whitish edges, the scapulars barred 

 with black; lower back and rump uniform black; central upper 

 tail-coverts also blackish, the lateral ones sandy buff with more 



