INTEODUCTION. Xvii 



trils beneath a soft, tumid valve. Tomiiv of the niiuuhljles nuitually apposuil. 

 Frontal feathers swucpinj,' in stronjfly convex ontline across base of n])i)er 

 niaii(li!)!e. Lc.u:s feathered to the tarsus oi' lievuml. iraliiix ineinnbent (with 

 i\'\v exee[itions), and front toes rarely \velil)ed at l)ase. Tarsus with small 

 sculella in front, or oltener reticulate, the envelope rather niembn.iious 

 than eorneous. Head very small. Plumau'e without after-shafts. One pair 

 of syriiiii-cid muscle.s, .Sternum doulily notched, or notched and lenestrate 

 on each side. Carotids double. Palate schi/.op;iiatlious. ilono^ramous, 

 and liiLdily altricial and psiloi)a'dic. 



F. OALLIN,Xi. Bill {renerally short, stout, convex, witli an obtuse 

 vaulted lip, corneous except in the nasal fossa, and witliout consii'iction in 

 its continuity. Nostrils scaled or feathered. Tonna of nppi'r inaudible ovi'r- 

 lapping. Frontal feathers Ibrmiiij,'- rc-eiitiant outline at the liase of upper 

 mandible. Legs usiiallj' leatliercil to the tarsus or beyond. Uallux ele- 

 vated, with few exceptions (e, if, ( 'racHn and .Uei/u/xidi'iJa:), smaller than the 

 anterior toes, occasionally waiitinj.'- (as in the Ileinipods). Tarsu.-;, when imt 

 leathered, generally broadly scutellale. Front toes commonly w(.'l)b((l at 

 base. Claws blunt, little curved. WiiiLis strong, short, and eoncavo-cdiivcx. 

 Ri'ctrii'cs commonly more than twelve. Head small. Phimai;!- usually 

 after-shafted. Carotids doiilile (except Tnni iridic and Mtyajioiliilti l No 

 iiilrinsi(; syringcal muscles. Sternum very deeply. ,L:'<'Uerally doulily. iiolc-hed. 

 Falalr srhizoL.'-uathous. Chielly |iolygainous. Pra'coi'ial and iMilopa'dic. 



G. I1IMICOL.S. 'fil)ia! liare of feathers for-a variabli' (someliiues very 

 slightj distance above the suffrago. Legs commonly leiigtheneii. some- 

 times excessively so, ami neck usually prodiKX'd in (.'orrespouiliug ratio. 

 Tarsi soutellate or reticulate. Toes never coherent at ba.se: cleft, or united 

 lor a short distance by one or two small movable liasal wi'ljs ([lalinate only 

 in lirriircirdslra. loliate only in I'lniliiriiiiniliiln-). Hallux always rc(hiced, 

 obviously elevated and free, or wanting; giving a foot of cursorial char- 

 acter. Wings, with i't^w excejitions, lengthened, pointed, and Hat; the inner 

 primaries and owUn' secondaries veiy short, l<)rmiiig a strong re-enlran<.'e on 

 the |iosterior border of the wing. Tail shorter than the wing, of simple 

 form, and of i\-\\ feathers, except in certain Snipes. Head gloijose. slojiing 

 rapidly down to the coiitr. 'ted base- of the bill, eomi)letely feathered (except 

 IViHoiiiKrliiis ^). (lape of bill short and constricted; tip usually obtuse; 

 liiU weak and llexible. Uoslruiu eonmionly leiiglhcneil, and more or les.s 

 terete and slen<lcr: mi'inbranous wholly or in great ])art, without hard cut- 

 ting edges. Xostrils narrow, placed low down, entirely surrounded with 

 soft skin; nasal Ibssa' extensive. Palate schizognathoiis. Sternum usually 

 doubly, sometimes -ingly, notcluMl. Carotids doulile, I'tcrylosis of a par- 

 ticular iiattern. Nature pnecocial and ptilopa>die. Comprising the '• Plover- 

 Snipe" group; species of medium and .small .size, with never extremely 

 compressed or depressed body; more or less aquatic, living on jilains and 

 ill open places, usually near water, nesting on the ground, where the young 

 run freely at birth. 



H. HZ3RODIONES. Tibia; naked bcl,)w. Legs and neck much length- 

 ened in corresponding ratio. Toes long, slender, never coherent at liase, 

 where cleft, or with movable basal webl,iug. Hallux fas coinpareil with 

 that of the preceding and following group) lengthen. mI, Ire.', ,and either 

 perfectly incumbent or but little I'levatcil, with a large claw, giviie.' a foot of 

 insc,s.sorial character, Wings commonly olitiise, bul broad and ainpli'. with- 

 out marked re-entrance on posterior border, the iutcrmcdiate rcuiiges not 

 'I.. 1. (• 



