GRALLATORES. STREPSILAS. 203 
Legs of mean length; the naked space above the tarsal 
joint small. Feet four-toed, three before and one behind ; 
the front ones united by a short membrane at the base, and 
furnished with narrow lobated margins; hind toe articulated 
upon the tarsus, bending inwards, and touching the ground 
with its tip. : 
Plumage thick, close, and adpressed. 
In the systems of Linnaeus, Laruam, and others, the 
Turnstone was arranged, along with other Scolopaceous 
birds, in the genus T'ringa, although the form and structury 
of the bill presented characters sufficiently distinct to shew 
the impropriety of such a classification, without considering 
the difference exhibited in their respective habits. Brisson 
first removed it from this situation, under the name of Are- 
naria ; but as that title was appropriated to the Sanderling 
(Tringa Arenaria of Linnzxus, now Arenaria Calidris of 
BecustEIn), the generic name of Strepsilas, bestowed by 
ItiiceR (and happily descriptive of a peculiar habit pos- 
sessed by the only known species), has now been generally 
adopted. As the general economy of this bird is much more 
closely assimilated to that of a Plover than to any member 
of the family of the Scolopacide, I have adopted Mr Vicors’s 
views with respect to it, and have accordingly made it a con- 
stituent member of the Charadriada. 
Hitherto only one species has been discovered, but which 
holds a wide geographical range, being found in all the divi- 
sions of the old, as well as in the new world, and subject to 
a great variety of climate, during the periods of its migra- 
tions. 
