32 
Fam. CHARADRIADZ. 
Subfam. CHARADRIANZ. 
The group of Plovers affords an instance in addition to those fur- 
nished by the genera Ceyz, Alcyone, Jacamaralcyon, Tiga, Tridactylia, 
Halodroma, and others, that the presence or absence of the hind-toe 
in birds becomes, under certain circumstances, a character of very 
small value in the natural arrangement. The fact seems to be, that 
when in any group the hind-toe becomes so slightly developed as to 
be unable to perform those functions of prehension or of progression 
which are its usual duties, the transition from the abortive state of 
this organ to its total disappearance becomes very unimportant. In 
the group of the Plovers too much weight has hitherto been attached 
to the presence or absence of the hind-toe; it has been made the 
groundwork of divisions into families and subfamilies, whereas the 
utmost value that can justly be assigned to it amounts only to that 
of a generic character. This is proved by the fact that the absence 
of the hind-toe is not coincident with the other and more extensive 
changes of structure in the group, so that it becomes indicative of 
analogy rather than of affinity, as the following table of the genera of 
Charadriane will show :— 
A. Acrotarsia reticulate, wings pointed, plumage spotted. 
a bree-t9ed*.) <a yia ae saat Charadrius. 
Four-toed of ie. sya cued Squatarola. 
B. Acrotarsia reticulate, wings pointed, plumage black, white, and 
grey, in large masses. 
Three-toed .... Hudromias. Hiaticula. 
C. Acrotarsia scutate, wings rounded, plumage black, white, and 
grey, in large masses. 
I. Face unwattled. 
a. wing-spine short, 
Three-toed. . Philomachus, Mcehr. P. coronatus (Gm.). 
(Hoplopterus, Bon.) b. wing-spine long, 
P. spinosus (Linn.). 
a. wing-spine short, 
V. cristatus (Linn.). 
b. wing-spine long, 
V. cayennensis (Gm.). 
Four-toed .. Vanellus, 'Temm. 
II. Face wattled. 
Three-toed ......... Sarciophorus, mihi. 
Four-toed ...... ‘.... Lobivanellus, mihi. 
The last two groups which have hitherto been united, the one 
with Charadrius, the other with Vanellus, are now for the first time 
defined. 
Genus SarciorHorus’*, n. g. 
=< Charadrius, Gm. 
Diff. Char.—Three-toed, lores watiled. 
* Sapkiov, a caruncle; pépw, to bear. 
