346 BIRDS. 
FALcInEeLLus*, 
Falcinelles have a bill somewhat more arcuated than that of the Co- 
corli; the thumb, moreover, is deficient. 
One species only is known, Scol. pygmea, L., a native of Africa, 
but which has sometimes been seen in Europe. 
Macuerest, Cuv. 
The Ruffs are true Sandpipers in their bill and carriage; the mem- 
brane between their external toes, however, is nearly as extensive as in 
Totanus, Limosa, &c. 
One species only is known, the J’ringa pugnax, L., Enl. 305, 
306. (The Ruff.) It is somewhat smaller than a snipe, and cele- 
brated for the furious combats which take place among the males in 
the nuptial season. At this period the head is partly covered with 
red papilla, the neck is surrounded with a thick collar of feathers, 
so variously arranged and coloured, and projecting in such fantastic 
positions, that no two individuals can be found alike; even before 
this epoch there is so much diversity in their plumage, that many 
imaginary species have been described by naturalists{. Their feet 
are always yellowish, which, with their bill and their semi-palmated 
external toes, furnish a mark which may assist us to recognize them. 
This bird, common to the whole north of Europe, is also found on 
the coast of France, particularly in the spring, but it does not build 
there (a). 
There are some small birds in America resembling the Sandpipers, 
whose feet are semi-palmated anteriorly (the HemrpaLama, Bonap.); 
Tringa semi-palmata, Wils., VII, lxiili, 4; Tringa brevirostris, 
Spix, xciil. 
It appears that it is near the Sandpipers we must place the 
Evrinoruyncuys, Wilson. 
Which is distinguished from them by its depressed bill, widened at 
the end almost like that of the Spoonbill, the only known species of 
which, 
Platalea pygmea, L.; Eurinorhynchus griseus, Wils., Thunb., 
Acad., Suec., pl. VI, is one of the rarest in existence, for only a 
singie individual has been found: it is grey above, white beneath, 
and hardly as large as a Pelidna. 
* Vieillot has changed this name into Eroxuia. It is not, as has been asserted, 
destitute of a thumb. 
+ Greek, Machetes, pugnator. Greek, Pelidnos, fuscus. 
+ The Chevalier varié, Buff, Sp. 1V; Briss. V, pl. xvii, 2, (Tringa littorea, L.; 
Tringa ochropus, B.; littorea, Gm.). The Chevalier, properly so called, Buff. Esp. 
II, Briss. V, pl. xvii, fig. 1, quoted by Gmel. under Scol. calidris; the true Sand- 
piper, Briss. V, pl. xx, fig. 1, (Tringa calidris, Gm.): the birds of Frisch, pl. 238, are 
all ruffs in different states of plumage, many other varieties of which might still be 
represented, 
According to Meyer, the Tringa grenovicensis, Lath. is also a young Ruff. 
(a) BF A true Ruff was shot on Long Island in May 1830. 
