BIRDS OF EUROPE, 



NOT OBSERVED IN THE BRITISH ISLES. 



GRALLATORES. 

 Family SCOLOPACID^. fBo7iaparte.J 



Genus Numenius. fLinnceus.J 



Generic Characters. — Bill very long, decurved, slightly compressed; upper 

 mandible grooved for three parts of its length, the point hard and obtuse, 

 and overlapping the inferior mandible ; nostrils basal, lateral, linear, opening 

 into the bill through the furrow. Face clothed with feathers. Legs long 

 and slender, naked above the knee ; three toes in front and one behind, 

 the anterior united by a membrane as far as the first articulation, the pos- 

 terior articulated to the tarsus, and touching the ground. Wings moderate, 

 the first primary the longest. 



SLENDER-BILLED CUELEW. 



Numenius tenuirostris. 



Numenius tenuirostris, Vieillot ; Diet. d'Hist. Nat., viii,, p. 302. 



(1817). 

 " hastatus, Contarini; Cat. Uccel. Padovia, p. 44. 



(1843)- 

 " syngenicos, VoN der Muhle; Orn. Griechenl., p. iii. 



(1844.) 

 Courtis a bee grele, Of the French. 



Diinnschnabliger Brachvogel, Of the Germans. 

 Ciurlotello, Of the Italians. 



Specific Characters.— B'lW slender and comparatively short; under wing 

 coverts pure unspotted white; the spots on the breast shaped like a spear's 

 VOL. V. B 



