CHAPTEE XX. 



Sternum oi Numenius phccopus. 



Genus NUMENIUS. 



lliagnosis TotaniNjE rostro satis arcuato ut linea recta descripta ab rictu ad apicem infra lineam inferam 

 of genus. mandibulse transeat : acrotarsi dimidio infero scutellato. 



(jcueric 

 characters. 



The Curlews belong unmistakably to tlie Totaninse. If the bill from the frontal feathers 

 to the tip be divided into four equal parts, the whole of the nasal orifice is found to be 

 situated within the basal fourth part ; and the middle toe is united to the inner as well as 

 to the outer one by a well-developed web at the base. 



I find it impossible to construct an entirely satisfactory diagnosis of the genus 



