340 



PR^COCIAL GKALLATOKES — LIMICOL^. 



Family RECURVIEOSTRIDiE. — The Avocets and Stilts. 



The Rccurvirostridw, in addition to the features already mentioned (see p. 108), 

 are characterized by the excessive length of the legs, with very long slender neck 

 and subulate, elongated bUl. The plumage has the same dense, soft character as 

 that of the Phalarojjodidm, FuUcbue, and Longipenncs. 



The three known genera, only two ui which occur in America, differ as follows : — 



A. Hind toe present. 



1. Recurvirostra. Anterior toes all webbed ; bill recurved. 



B. Hinil toe wanting. 



2. Cladorhynchus.i Toes all webbed ; bill perfectly straight, excessively depressed ; tarsus 



Imt little if any longer than bill. 



3. Himaiitopus. No web between inner and middle toes, and web between outer and 



middle toes quite small ; bill very slightly recurved from the middle, cylindrical or 

 scarcely depressed ; tarsus much longer than the bill. 



Genus RECURVIROSTRA, Linnjeus. 



Rcciirviroslra, Linn. Syst. Nat. ed. 10, I. 1758, 151 (type R. avocdia, L.). 



Char. Hind toe rudimentary, but distinct ; anterior toes united to the claws by a much 

 emarginated membrane. Bill depj-essed, decidedly recurved, extended into a fine point, which is 

 slightly deourved. Tail covered by the wings. 



R. americana. 



The species of Avocet are few in niunlier, there being one peculiar to North America, South 

 America, Australia, and Europe, respectively. The two American species may be distinguished 

 as follows : — 



1 Cladorhynchus, G. E. Geay, Gen. B. III. 1840, 577, pi. 155, fig. 1 (type, Lcptorhynchus pcdoralis, 

 Du Bus). 



