TOT ANUS. 



349 



KEY TO THE SPECIES. 



Of the twenty-eight generic names already enumerated as having been appUed to 

 sections of this genus, six of them may perhaps be allowed to claim subgeneric rank, and 

 the species may be ranged under them as follows : — 



Totanus. — T. glottis, T. fuscus, T. calidris, T. guttiferus, T. stagnatilis. 



Machetes. — T. pugnax. 



Sympliemia. — T. semipalmatus. 



Tringoides. — T. melanoleucus, T. flavipes, T. glareola, T. ochropus, T. solitarius, 

 T. terekius, T. hypoleucus, T. macularius. 



Heteroscelus. — T. incanus, T. brevipes. 



Bartraniia. — T. bartrami. 



In forming a key to the species it is scarcely necessary to recognize more than two 

 groups. Subgenera are so very aggressive, that it is a pity to lose an opportunity of 

 snubbing them. 



The first group contains the typical Totani, which may always be distinguished by 

 their white lower backs, and the Heterosceli and Symphemia, which may be most easily 

 recognized by their unbarred dark grey axillaries. 



, Secondaries white, barred with 



fuscus 



grey. 



Secondaries nearly uniform J 



white. 



1 



calidris. 



semipalmatus 

 guttiferus • 



Both sides of middle toe 

 webbed at base. 



Wing less than 5^ inches 

 from carpal joint. 



glottis. 



stagnatilis. 



incanus 



Nasal groove extending over | |jj,gyipgg 



\ Lower back, rump, and upper 



J 



tail-coverts grey. 



only the basal half of bill. | 



All these characters are found in the young in first plumage as well as in adults, and 

 are independent of season or sex. 



