74 BIRDS OF IliLLVOIS. 



Family RECUR VIB,0STRID^.— The Avocets and Stilts. 



The Recurvirostridce, in addition to the features ah"ead\^ men- 

 tioned (see p. 19), are characterized by the excessive length of 

 the legs, with very long slender neck and subulate, elongated 

 bill. The plumage has the same dense, soft character as that 

 of the Phalaropodidce, Fuliclnoi^ and Longlpennes. 



Genera. 



A. Hind toe present. 



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



B. Hind too wanting. 



2. Himantopus. No web between middle and inner toes, and web between outer and 

 middle toes quite small; bill slightly upturned from the middle, cyUndrical or 

 scarcely depressed; tarsus much longer than the bill. 



Genus RECURVIROSTRA Linn.eus. 



liecurvirostra Linn. Syst. Nat. ed, 10, i, 1758, 151. Type, R. avosetta Linn. 



Chak. Hind toe rudimentary, but distinct; anterior toes united by a much emar^oated 

 membrane. Bill depressed, decidedly recurved, extended into a fine point, which is slightly 

 decurvod. Tail covered by the wings. 



The species of Avocet are few in number, there being one pe- 

 culiar to North America, South America, Australia, and Europe 

 respectively. 



Recurvirostra americana Gmol. 



AMEKICAN AVOCET. 

 Popular synonyms. White Snipe (Salt Lake Valley); Yelper; Lawyer: Scooper. 



liecurvirostra a7nericnna Gmel. S. N. ed. 13, i, 178.S, 603.— Wilson, Am. Orn. vii, 18i;l, 12fi. 



pi. G.3, fig. 9.— NUTT. Man. ii, 1831, 76.— Aud. Orn, Biog. iv, 1838, 168, pi. .S18; Syuop. lS.S0,2i2; 



Birds Am. vi. 1843, 24, pi. 353.— Baied, Birds N. Am. 1858, 703; Cat. N. Am. B. l&V.), No. 



617.— CouEs. Key, 1872, 147; Check List, 1873, No. 407; 2d ed. 1882, No. COO.— Ridgw. 



Nom. N. Am. B. 1881, No. 66<;; Man. N. Am. B. 1887, 14G. -B. B. & B. Water B. N. Am. i, 



1884, 341.— A. 0. U. Check List. 1886, No. 225. 

 Jiec^irvirostra occidentalis Vig. Zool. Jom-. iv, 1820, 356 ; Zool. Voy. Blossom. 1839, 28, pi 



12.— Cass. Illustr. B. Cal., Tex., etc,. 1865, 232, pi. 40 {=winter plumage!). 



