GBALLATORIiE. 161 



similarly proportioned, and has the same grooves? the toes also are bordered 

 with wide membranes like those of Fulica. 



Strepsilas. 

 The Thm-stones stand rather low; the bill is short, and the toes are with- 

 out membranes, like those of the true Sandpipers; but this bill is conical, 

 pointed, without any depression, compression, or inflation, and the nasal 

 fossae do not extend to more than half its length. The thumb barely 

 reaches the ground. Their bill, which is stronger and stiffer in proportion 

 than that of the preceding birds, enables them to overturn stones, beneath 

 which they find worms. 



TOTANUS, Cuv. 



The beak of these birds is slender, round, pointed and solid; the nasal 

 fossx do not extend beyond the half of its length, and the upper mandible 

 is slightly arcuated near the end. Their form is light and their legs long; 

 but a small part of their thumb rests on the ground; their external web is 

 well marked. Each of the species is found throughout almost the whole of 

 the globe. 



Among the species foreign to Europe, we should particularly notice that 

 of North America, with the large beak and semipalmated feet, Scolopax 

 semipalmata, L. which has a short and thick beak, plumage brown-grey above, 

 whitish beneath; brownish spots on the neck and breast; toes well bordered 

 with equal and considerable membranes. 



HiMANTopus,(l) Briss. 

 The bill round, slender and pointed, even more so than that of a Totanus, 

 and the nasal grooves occupy but half its length. The excessive length 

 and tenuity of the legs which are reticulated and destitute of a thumb, and 

 the weakness of their bones, which is so extreme as to render walking pain- 

 ful to them, are what principally distinguish the species of this subgenus, 

 and give rise to their name. Tliis is perhaps the only place for the 



Recurvirostra, Lin., 

 Or the Avosets, although their feet, which are webbed to near the ends of 

 the toes, almost entitle them to a situation among the Palmipedes; but their 

 high tarsi and half naked legs, their long, slender, pointed, smooth, and 

 elastic bill, together with the mode of Ufe resulting from this conformation, 

 equally approximate them to the Snipes. What particularly characterises, 

 and even distinguishes them from all other birds, is the strong upward curve 

 of their beak. Their legs are reticulated, and their thumb much too short 

 to reach the ground. 



(I) Himantopus, feet like a string, (alluding to their weakness) is the 

 name given to this bird in Pliny. 

 V 



