INTRODUCTION. ^^^^,j; 



gonys, the tip either compressod and tiniiieate or ilenressoil and acute. 

 Feet tliree-toed and with ba.-;al webbin.^' {Ikeumtopus). or Ibur-toed and 



cleft (,SV,t;k/A,.) I/cemalopodidce. 



Leg.< moderate. Tarsii,s shorter tlian tail, reticulate. Hind toe wantin" 

 (except in Sijualaro/a, \\here ve'-y .«niall, and in Ajilrraa). Bill short" 

 strai.Ldit, — not exeeedinfjf the head (generally shorter), — shaped like a 

 liigeon's, with short, broad, soft nasal Ibssie separated by a constriction li'oni 

 the enlarged, obtnse, horny terminal part. Head hn\'e, globose, contraetin" 

 suddenly to the bill. Neck short ...'.... chlradriklce. 



Legs moderate. Tarsus shorter than tail, scutellaie. Hind toe present. 

 Bill long, — ci|nalling, or oftener exceeding, freipiently several times longer 

 than, the head; sofiish and membranous to the very tip, without constrie- 

 tion in i(s continuity ; straight or variously curved .... Scolopacidce 

 Toes lobate. Tarsi notably compressed. 



(ieneral characters of ScoJopucida:. liody depressed; the under pluma.^.- 

 tluckened, duck-hke. Ilnbits natatorial Pladuropodidw. 



AxAf.ysis or Famii.ii.s of HER01<I0NJBS. 



Hallux lengthened, perfectly incumbent, witli lar-e claw. Tarsi scutellate .Mid 

 '"''■ '■'"'^' ■l'"-'"^'- '^ill perlectly straight, laperin- acute. Loral re-ion defi- 

 nitely nak.'d, continuous with covering of the bill. Head narrow. 'elon-'ate 

 tapering .... . " ^ ' . 



Hallux somewhat ivduced, less perfectly incumbent. Tarsi eommonlv reticulate 

 ^[idd e claw not pectinate. Lores, gular space an.l usually more of the head 

 naked. Bill vanon.sly ,.,nved or with expanded lip. (Genera Tuntalns Ihis 

 MyckTiu, and P/nhdai.) . . ' ™ , , 



'■••■■•• lantaUda. 



Ax.vr.Ysi.i OF F.vMii.rFs of ALECTORIDES, 



Of great statuiv, will, exlreinely long neck and legs, I>,m( or all of the head 

 ;are. Iocs much .shorter than the tarsi; with basal webbing, bnt without loba- 

 '-n : hallux very short, higldy elevated. Bill cptalli:,. or exceeding the head 

 compressed, perlectly straight, coutracte.l about th, ddle, with eiilar...ed acute 

 tmninal portion ; nasal fbssa- wide and deep, with large perlbrate nostHls ^ . Gruidce 

 Sue moderate and small; neck and legs comparatively .short. Head com- ' 

 e ely ,e,U,er...l, excepting, in the Coots ami Gallimiles, a broad l,„rnv Irontal 

 1 .'t-l. Ines cMua hng or ex.re.ling the tarsi, simple or lobat,.. Bill t'.ot eon- 

 siric ed m the noddle rather shorter than the head, straight and ,,,1,0 stout: or 

 -..•li long-'r. regularly .slender and deeurved, with Ion, mi.sal (b.^sa.. Nostrils 

 incompletely or not perforate -onus 



. liaUidcc, 



AjfAi.v,«is OF FA.^fIr.IK9 of LAMELLIROSTRES. 



ZaXTr "'"'-"■":'■'"'""■">• '""f^"'" I -'■!< -"' i<rs. Hill of „ni,p.e 



iKipe, bent abruptly down from the middle. T.bi.e n.ked below. Hind oe 

 minute or ulLsent. Wings rounded. I!ed the chief color , • , •, 



Of moderate si.e; the neck short, or. when leng,,,;,;., ,1 Vompan ■ :'""""'^- 



;i;;;tL;;h:hr:^^^ '.■"■" -— v.-i.>-v..opedandnu,c. 



iiialiilw. 



