XXxiv INTRODUCTION. 
grooved along the upper surface, under mandible grooved along the sides. 
Nostrils near the base of the upper surface of the beak, linear, long. Wings 
-pointed, the first quill the longest. Legs long and slender, a great portion of 
the tibia naked ; three toes in front, united as far as the second joint by a 
membrane, the margin of which is incised ; hind toe minute, articulated 
high up on the tarsus (p. 561). 
Himantopus, Brisson.— Bill long, slender, slightly recurved at the tip, cylindrical, 
flattened at the base, compressed at the point, both mandibles grooved on 
the sides along the basal half of their length. Nostrils lateral, linear, 
elongated. Wings very long, the first quill considerably the longest. Legs 
very long and slender ; three toes only, all in front, the middle united to the 
outer toe by a membrane of considerable size and to the interior toe by a 
smaller membrane ; claws small and flat (p. 563). 
PHALAROpUS, Brésson.—Bill rather long, weak, straight, depressed, and blunt ; 
both mandibles grooved throughout their whole length ; the upper mandible 
slightly curved at the point. Nostrils basal, lateral, oval, with an elevated 
margin. Wings long and pointed, the first quill the longest. Legs rather 
short, slender; tarsus compressed; three toes in front, furnished with 
extensions of the membrane laterally, forming lobes slightly serrated at the 
edges ; a small hind toe articulated on the inner side of the tarsus (p. 565). 
Scotorax, Brisson.—-Bill long, straight, compress2d, slender, soft, slightly 
curved at the point ; both mandibles grooved along the basal half of their 
length ; point of the upper mandible extending beyond that of the lower 
mandible, the curved part forming a slight crook ; superior ridge elevated at 
the base, prominent. Nostrils lateral, basal, pierced longitudinally near the 
edges of the mandible, covered by a membrane. Wings moderate, the first 
quill the longest. Tail short, rounded. Legs rather short, the tibia feathered 
nearly to the tarsal joint ; three toes before and one behind, the anterior toes 
almost entirely divided (p. 569). 
GALLINAGO, Leach.—Bill very long, straight, slender, flexible, slightly elevated 
towards the tip of the upper mandible, which is decurved at the point and 
projects beyond the lower; both mandibles grooved along the basal half of 
their length. Nostrils lateral, linear, basal, covered by a membrane. Tail 
slightly rounded. Wings moderate, pointed, the first quill the longest ; 
inner secondaries very long. Legs rather long and slender ; naked space on 
the tibia short ; tarsus scutellated ; three toes before, long, slender, divided to 
the base ; hind toe slender, elevated ; claws slender, acute (p. 571). 
Limico.a, A. L. Koch.—Bill much longer than the head, nearly as broad as high 
at the base, very flat and wide up to the tip, where it is gradually rounded 
obtusely, with the terminal portion slightly decurved; nostrils oval, 
oblique, placed in a depressed membrane. Wings long, pointed, the first 
quill the longest ; inner secondaries long and pointed. Tail moderate, 
doubly emarginated. Legs rather short, slender, bare on the lower part of 
the tibia ; tarsus scutellated ; the three anterior toes long and slender, slightly 
webbed at the base ; the hind toe moderate (p. 577). 
TRINGA, Brisson.—Bill rather longer than the head, sometimes decurved, rather 
flexible, compressed at the base, depressed, dilated, and blunt towards the 
point, both mandibles grooved along the sides. Nostrils lateral, placed in 
the membrane of the groove. Wings moderately long, pointed, the first 
