358 CLASS AVES. 



The family of 



The Longirostres, 



Is composed of a number of wading birds, most 

 of which formed the genus Scolopax of Linnaeus ; 

 while others were confounded in his genus Tringay 

 partly contrary to the characteristic attribute of 

 that genus, that of having the thumb too short 

 to touch the ground. Finally, a small number 

 were placed with the plovers in consequence of the 

 absolute want of thumb. All these birds have the 

 same forms, the same habits, and often the same 

 distribution of colours, which renders it very difficult 

 to distinguish them, properly, from each other. They 

 are generally characterized by their slender, long, and 

 weak bill, which permits them only to grope in mud 

 for worms and small insects. The different grada- 

 tions in the forms of this bill serve for the purpose 

 of subdividing them into genera and sub-genera. 



Following the principles of Linnaeus, it will be 

 necessary to re-unite the majority of these birds 

 under his great genus of 



Scolopax, 



Which we shall divide as follows, according to the 

 gradations in the form of the bill. 



The Ibis. (Ibis, Cuv.) 

 Which we separate from the tantalus of Gmelin, be- 



