124 KEY TO FAMILIES 
e 
AS 
i 
a ———————— ; 
1 Ng d 
c 
Fia. 42, 
Order IX. Limicolz.—Puataropss, SNIPES, PLOvERs, etc. 
Long-legged, often slender-billed ‘Shore-birds,’ usually less than a 
foot in length, which frequently utter piping whistles in flight or as 
they take wing; toes four or (Plovers) three; the hind-toe, when present, 
less than half the length of the inner, and always elevated; bill soft; 
nostrils opening through slits or grooves; wings long and pointed, 
tertials much elongated. 
in 
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SHITD 
Wi) 
Fia. 43, 
1. Tarsus over 3°50; noisy, conspicuous, black and white or black, 
and white and brown birds. ... Family Recuvirostride: 
Avocets (Fig. 12) and Sritts, p. 241. 
2. Tarsus under 3°50. 
A. Toes lobate (Fig. 43 a)... . Family Phalaropodide: PHauar- 
OPES, p. 239. 
B. Toes not lobate (Fig. 43, b, c, d, e). 
a. Front of tarsus with square, transverse scales (Fig. 43, b, c); 
toes four except in the Sanderling. 
a1, Whole lower back white, a black band across the rump; 
bill short, stout and slightly recurved. ... Family 
Aphrizide: Surr Brrps and Turnstonzs, p. 268. 
b!. Whole lower back not white; bill a probe, softer, pro- 
portionately longer, not recurved (Fig. 42, a,b). .. 
Family Scolopacide: SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, etc., p. 242. 
b. Front of tarsus with rounded scales; toes three (except in 
Black-bellied Plover). (Fig. 43, d, e.) : 
bl, Bill under 2°00 (Fig. 42, c,d)... . . Family Charadrtide: 
Piovers, p. 263. 
2 Bill over 2°00.... Family Hematopodide: Oystar- 
CATCHERS, p. 268. 
