THE THICK-KNEE. 93 



and in some instances the species, are the only accurate 

 distinctions. 



ORALLY WITH THREE TOES. 



The species of these are not so numerous as those with the 

 hinder toe. Their general characters are : the body compact, 

 well-shouldered, and tapering backwards ; the plumage firm 

 and close ; the wings strong, reaching to the end of the tail, 

 (which is distinctly wedge-shaped,) and in some species be- 

 yond it ; the head round, or with a curved outline on the 

 upper part, and with the eye farther from the gape than in 

 the gallinse or the running birds ; the bill generally longer 

 than the head ; and the lengths of the bill, neck, and feet, 

 varying together, but not in exactly the same proportion. 

 The bill straight and strong, compressed towards the tip ; 

 the upper mandible with a keel on the ridge, and the lower 

 one angular at the tip \ the outline of both nearly straight 

 for a portion at the base, and convex towards the tip ; the 

 nostrils lengthwise near the middle of the bill, and opening 

 in front by a cleft ; the legs long and slender ; the toes united 

 by a membrane at their bases, and partially margined with 

 the same their. whole length; the claws short, and the feet 

 not at all adapted for clutching or perching. The birds run 

 and fly swiftly, and can turn readily on the wing : they run 

 best upon surfaces bare of vegetation. 



THE THICK-KNEE (CEdicnemus crepitans). 



This bird has been called the Norfolk plover, the stone- 

 plover, the stone-curlew, and other names, none of which is 

 very definite. It is the largest three-toed species of the 

 order, being about a foot and a half in length, two feet two 

 inches in the extent of the wings, and upwards of a pound in 

 weight. The bill is about two inches, and the tarsi between 

 five and six inches in length ; the neck is rather long ; and 



