160 AVES. 



even slightly arcuated near the top. The nasal groove extends close to the 

 tip, which is blunt and somewhat depressed; no tliird groove or punctation 

 on its surface. The external toes are palmated at base. Their form is 

 more slender, and their legs are longer than those of Snipes; they frequent 

 salt marshes and the sea-shore. 



Calidkis, Cuv. 

 The bill of the Sandpipers is depressed at the end, and the nasal fossjc 

 are very long as in the Godwits, but this bill is not usually longer than the 

 head; their slightlybordered toes have no membranes at base, and their thumb 

 can hardly reach the ground; their moderately long legs and short figure 

 give them a heavier carriage than that of the Godwits. They are also 

 much smaller. 



Arenaria, Bechst. — Calidris, Vig. 

 The Sanderlings resemble the Sandpipers in every point but one, viz. they 

 have no thumb, as is the case with the Plovers. 



Pewdna, Cuv. 

 The Pelidnas are merely small Sandpipers, with a bill somewhat longer 

 than the head. The edging of their feet is insensible. 



Machetes, Cuv. 

 The Ruffs are true Sandpipers in their bill and caiTiage; the membrane 

 between their external toes, however, is nearly as extensive as in Totanus, 

 Limosa, &c. 



One species only is known, the Tringa pugnax, L. It is somewhat 

 smaller than a Snipe, and celebrated for the furious combats that take place 

 among the males. At this period the head is partly covered with red pa- 

 pill se, the neck is surrounded with a thick collar of feathers, so variously 

 arranged and coloured, and projecting in such fantastic positions, that no 

 two individuals can be found alike; even before this epoch tliere is so much 

 diversity in their plumage, that many imaginary species have been described 

 by naturalists- 

 There are some small birds in America resembling the Sandpipers, whose 

 feet are semi-palmated anteriorly (the Hemipalama, Bonap.). 



EcRiNoiiHTircHCS, Nilsou. 



Distinguished from them by its depressed bill, widened at the end almost 

 like that of the Spoonbill, the only known species of which, 



Eurinorhynchus griseus, NUs., is one of the rarest in existence; for only 

 a single individual has been found: it is grey above, white beneath, and 

 hai'dly as large as a PeUdna, 



Phalaropus, Briss. 

 Small birds, whose bill, though flatter than that of the Sandpipers, is 



