394 



CLASS AVES. 



in winter. The American species, the American Avo- 

 set. Lath. H. (R. Americana.) Wils. vii., Ixiii. 2. 

 Leach. Zool. Misc. pi. 101, differs only by having a 

 red cap. 



There is upon the coasts of the Indian Ocean a 

 third species, altogether white, with the wings all 

 black, and red feet. (R. Orientalis, Cuv.) The 

 Oriental Avocette, Steph. 



M. Vieillot has changed this name into R. Leuco- 

 cephala. Gal. pi. 27^. 



Red-necked, or New Holland Avoset. R. Ruhri- 

 collis, Tem. ; Novce Hollandice, Steph. 



Head, and part of neck, deep red ; quills, and upper 

 coverts, black ; rest of plumage, white. From South 

 Asia and New Holland. 



The family of The Macrodactyli 



Have the toes of the feet very long, and adapted for 

 walking through the grass of marshes, or even for 

 swimming j especially in the numerous species which 

 have them well edged. Nevertheless, there are no 

 membranes between the bases of their toes, not even 

 between the external ones. The bill, more or less 

 compressed on the sides, is elongated or shortened 

 according to the species, without ever becoming so 

 slender or weak as that of the preceding family. 

 The body of these birds is also singularly com- 

 pressed, a conformation which is produced by the 

 narrowness of the sternum. Their wings are mode- 



