306 CLASS AVES. 



They may be subdivided into the two following sub- 

 genera : 



Oedicnemus. Tern.* 



These have the end of the bill swollen as well above 

 as below, and the nasal fossae extending only half its 

 length. They are the largest species, which frequent 

 in preference, dry and stony ground, feeding on 

 snails, insects, &c. ; they have some similarity to 

 the small species of bustards ; their feet are reticu- 

 lated, and there is a short membrane in the interval 

 of their three toes. 



The Common Oedicnemus, or Thick-kneed Bustard. 

 Lath. Charadrius Oedicnemus. Lin. Oedic. Cre- 

 pitans. Tem. — Enl. 919- Frisch. 215. Naum. 

 first edit. 9. f. 13. 



As large as a woodcock ; yellowish-grey, with a 

 brownish cast in the middle of each feather ; the 

 belly is white, and there is a brownish stripe under 

 the eye. 



Spotted Thick-knees. Oedic. Maculosus. Cuv. 

 Col. 292. 



Like former, without any wing-band; wing-coverts 

 and secondaries, ferrugineous, black and white band- 

 ed ; chest-bands, broader ; tarsi, longer ; and bill 

 and toes, shorter. Africa, from Senegal to the 

 Cape; the O. Capensis, of Lichtenstein. Length, 



* A name invented by B; Ion, for the ThicJc-kneed Bustard. 



