394 AVES. 
Totanus, and the nasal grooves occupy but half its length. The ex- 
cessive length and tenuity of the legs which are reticulated and des- 
titute of a thumb, and the weakness of their bones, which is so ex- 
treme as to render walking painful to them, are what principally 
distinguish the species of this subgenus, and give rise to their 
name. 
One species only is known in Europe,—Charadrius himantopus, 
L., Enl. 878, which is white, with a black calotte and mantle, 
and long red feet; it is a rare bird whose habits are but im- 
perfectly known.(1) 
This is perhaps the only place for the 
, Recurvirostra, Lin. 
Or the Avosets, although their feet, which are webbed to near the 
ends of the toes, almost entitle them to a situation among the Pal- 
mipedes; but their high tarsi and half naked legs, their long, slen- 
der, pointed, smooth, and elastic bill, together with the mode of life 
resulting from this conformation, equally approximate them to the 
Snipes. What particularly characterizes, and even distinguishes 
them from all other birds, is the strong upward curve of their beak. 
Their legs are reticulated, and their thumb much too short to reach 
the ground. 
The European species,—Recurv. avocetia, L., Enl. 353, is 
white; a black calotte and three bands on the wing of the same 
hue; feet, lead-coloured; it is a pretty bird of a graceful form, 
found in winter on the sea shore. The American species,—R. 
americana, Wils. VII, Ixiii, 2; Leach, Zool. Misc., pl. 101, 
differs from it in a red hood. 
The coasts of the Indian seas produce a third which is white, 
with black wings.and red feet, the RP. orientalis, Cuy.(2) 
FAMILY V. 
q 
M a BORA PTL ag 
This family is furnished with very long toes, fitted for will 
ing on the grass of marshes, and even for swimming, in those, 
numerous species especially, in which they are bordered with | 
a membrane. ‘There are no membranes, however, between 
(1) Add, Him. nigricollis, Wils. VU, pl. lviii, 2, and Vieill. Gal. pl. 229. 
(2) Vicillot has changed this name into Recurvir. leucocephala, Gal. pl. 272. 
