HIMANTOPID.E. 703 



white ; primaries and their coverts dusky brown ; the secondaries 

 white for the greater portion of their length ; upper tail-coverts 

 and tail barred with white and dark brown ; throat white ; fore-neck 

 and breast greyish white ; abdomen and lower tail-coverts white. 



Bill reddish at the base, dusky at the tip ; irides brown ; legs 

 and feet pale red. Length about 10^ to 11| inches ; wing 6 ; 

 tail 2 t 4 q ; bill at front l^ ; tarsus 1 t 8 q. 



The common Red-shanks is found throughout the greater part of 

 India in the cold season, and often in large flocks. It is generally 

 recognised during flight by the extent of white on the wing. It is 

 noisy and watchful, and is supposed to be the Martyroa or Tell- 

 tale of the Greeks. Irby mentions that he has seen a flock of 

 thirty or forty, each one a little in rear of another, forming a sort 

 of oblique line, and advancing across a shallow jheel, all with 

 their heads half immersed in the water, and moving them from 

 right to left with great rapidity. Both species of Red-shanks are 

 inhabitants of the greater part of Europe and Asia, breeding in 

 the North. 



Several other species of Gambetta are recorded from the Oceanic 

 region and America. The Willet of Europe, Tot. semipalmatus, 

 Linn., is classed under Symphemia, apud Gray, (Catoptrophorus, 

 Bonap.); and T. bartramius, Wilson, of North America, with T. 

 australis, J. and S., are placed under Bartramia, Lesson, (Actiturus, 

 Bonap. which he states to be closely related to Oreophilus). 



Oreophilus ruficollis, (totanirostris, Jard., Dromicus Lessoni) 

 is a doubtful member of this family, and perhaps belongs to the 

 Plovers, as placed by Gray. Phegornis Mitchelli, Fraser, is the only 

 other type given by Bonaparte among the TotanincB, and this is 

 also by some looked upon as a Plover. 



Fam. HlMANTOPIDiE. 



Syn. Recurvirostridce, Bonap. 



Of black and white plumage, not changing in summer ; the 

 legs very much lengthened ; bill long and very thin, and, in one 

 genus, recurved. 



The two genera placed in this family differ from all the Snipes 

 and their allies in their remarkably slender bills, and length of leg, 



