644 



SYSTEMATIC SYNOPSIS. —LIMICOL^. 



dible. Wings and tail (irdinary ; latter barred in color. Legs rather stout ; tibis largely 

 denuded below; tarsus much longer than middle toe and claw, scutellate in front only, else- 

 where reticulate. Toes short and thick, flattened underneath, brcjadly margined on sides. 

 Of large and medium stature, and plump form. Coloration variegated ; rufous usually prevail- 

 ing. Sexes alike ; changes of plumage not pronounced. A cosmopolitan genus of several 

 species ; in character of bill unif[ue, in that of the legs very similar to liinosa. In fact, 

 barring the bill, Nmneniiis longirostris closely resembles Limosa fceda. It is a curious fact 

 that Old and New World representatives of both these genera differ from each other in a simi- 

 lar maimer, the former having the rump, tail and its coverts, and lining of wings white, barred 

 or not, while some or all of these parts in the latter are dark. Compare Limosa fceda with L- 

 uropygialis ; L. Imdsonica with L. lajpponica ; Numenius htidsonieus with N. phmopus, etc. 





m^. 



ill 'H 



Fig. 451. —The European Ciirlew, Nvmenius arquatus, J nat. size. (From Brelim.) 



Analysis of Species. 



Feathers of belly bristle-tipped taitensis 647 



Feathers of belly iiorDial. 



Rump white, more or less spotted with tluslcy. 



Upper tail-coverts and under wing-coverts white spotted and barred with dusky . . phmopits 644 

 Rump, upper tail-coverts and lining of wings not white. 



Primaries varied with rufous. General coloration strongly rufous, especially below; lining of 



wings deepest rufous, little or not varied. Large ; bill 4-6-8 inches lonffirostris 643 



Primaries varied with rufous or whitish. General coloration scarcely or not rufous; lining of 



wing.4 entirely varied. Medium-sized ; bill .3-4 inches hmlsonicus 645 



Primaries not varied with rufous or whitish General coloration scarcely or not rufous ; lining 

 of wings entirely varied. Sm.alle8t -, bill under 3 inches bcrrealis 646 



