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368 | AVES. 
CHARADRIUS, Lin.(1 ) 
The Plovers have no thumb; the beak is moderate, compressed, and 
enlarged at the point. 
They may be divided into two subgenera; viz. 
CEpIcNEMUS, Tem.(2) 
In which the end of the beak is inflated above as well as beneath, 
and the fosse of the nostrils only extend half its length. They are 
larger species which prefer dry and stony places, and feed on snails, 
insects, kc. They have some affinity with the smaller species of 
Bustards. Their feet are reticulated, and there is a short membrane 
between each of their three toes. 
(dic. crepitans, Tem.; Charadrius wdicnemus, L.; Courlis de 
terre; Enl. 919; Frisch, 215; Naum. Ed. J, 9, f. 13. (The Thick- 
knee.) Size of a Woodcock; afawn coloured grey, with a brown 
streak on the middle of each feather; white belly; a brown. 
streak under the eye.(3) 
Cuaraprius,Cuv. , 
The beak of the True Plovers is only inflated above, and has two- 
thirds of its length occupied by the nasal fossz, which render it 
weaker. They live in large flocks, and frequent low grounds, where 
they strike the earth with their feet, in order to at in motion the 
worms on which they feed. 
The species of France are only found there, i in transituyduring 
the autumn and in the spring: near the sea coast, some of them 
remain until the beginning of winter. Their flesh is excellent, 
and with various other species, they form a tribe with reticulated 
legs, the most remarkable of which are: 
Char. pluvialis, L., Ent. 9043; Frisch, 216; Naum. I, c. 10, f. 
Syn. II, pl. Ixxix;—the benghalensis, Edw. 250;—the Arabs, Id. 12;—but I with- 
draw the (Edicnemus, which, on account of its compressed beak, enlarged at the 
end, begins the following genus.—Add, Otis nuba, Rupp. pl. 1;—Ot. denhami;— 
Ot. torquata, Cuv., a new species from the Cape. 
(1) Charadrius, the Greek name of a nocturnal aquatic bird, comes from x2ee- 
dee. Gaza translates it by Miaticula. 
(2) Edicnemus (swelled leg), a name invented by Belon for the Thick-knee. 
(3) Add the Gdicnéme tachard (2d; maculosus, Cuy.) Col. 292;—the Gd. 2 
longs pieds (Ed. longipes, Geoff.) Vieill. Gal. 228, or Cd: echasse, Tem. Col. 
386;—the (Hd. 4 gros bee (2d. magnirostris, Geoff. ), Col. 387, might, from the form 
of its beak, be placed at the head of a particular series to which would belong a 
closely allied species with a slightly recurved upper mandible: @d. recurvirostris, 
Cuv.:—Char. crassirostris, Spix, 94. 
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