416 CLASS AVES. 



three genera, which it is difficult to associate to the 

 others, and which may be considered as separately 

 forming small families. 



The Sheath-bills. Chionis, Forster. Vaginalis, 

 Lath. 



Their legs are short, almost as in the gallinae ; tarsi, 

 scaled ; their bill gross and conical, and on its base 

 a corneous sheath, which appears capable of being 

 raised upwards or depressed. 



But one species is known, belonging to New 

 Holland. 



White Sheath-hill. Vag. Chionis. Lath. IIL pi. 89. 

 Chionis Necrophaga^ Vieill. Gal. 258. 



Of the size of a partridge, with plumage entirely 

 white. It remains on the sea-coast, where it lives 

 on the dead animals which are cast ashore by the 

 waves. 



The Vaginalis Alba, Gmel. Chionis Forsteri, Steph. 

 Ch. Novce HollandicB, Temm. Annal. Ch. Alba, 

 Forst. Frey. Voy. t. 35. ; the feet slightly fringed 

 like Himantopus. 



The Pratincoles. Glareola, Gm. 



Their bill is short, conical, arched throughout, pretty 

 deeply cleft, and resembling that of a gallina. Their 

 wings are excessively long and pointed, which, with 

 tlic tail, frequently forked, reminds us of tlie appa- 



