BIRDS — SCOLOPACIDAE — TOTANINAE. 



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List of specimens. 



Sub-Family TOTANINAE. 



Ch. — Bill as long as the head, or longer ; the basal portion covered witli soft skin ; the terminal portion (generally at least 

 half) horny, and more or less attenuated and pointed in Totaneae The lateral grooves of bill extending to the horny 

 terminal portion. The gape of mouth extending behind the base of culmen. Toes generally connected by a basal membrane. 

 The tail always with distinct transverse bars in North American species, except in Heteroscelus. 



This sub-family appears to differ from most Scolopacinae in the less degree of sensitiveness 

 in the tip of the bill, which is more horny, and not covered by soft skin well supplied with 

 nerves. The toes are almost always connected at the base by a membrane, this being the rule 

 and not the exception^ as in Scolopacinae. 



The following may be taken as an approximate indication of the divisions of this sub-family : 



A. Tarsi covered anteriorly and posteriorly by transverse scutellae, except in Heteroscelus; 

 finely reticulated laterally. Bill nearly straight, or bent a little upwards. 



ToTANBAE. — Bill nearly straight, about as long as the tarsus, attenuated. Bill not 

 grooved for the terminal fourth. Gape of mouth extending beyond base of culmen. 



LiMOSEAE. — Bill longer than the tarsus, curving slightly upwards towards the end, 

 where it is thickened. Both mandibles grooved for nearly their whole length. Gape 

 of mouth very short, not extending beyond the base of culmen. 



B. Tarsi covered anteriorly only by transverse scutellae, reticulated laterally and behind. 

 Bill curving considerably downwards from near the middle. 



NuMENiEAB. — Lateral grooves not extending beyond the middle. Bill thickened at the 

 tip ; longer than the tarsus. 

 The Limoseae and Numenieae, in many respects, the former especially, approach the 

 Scolopacinae, and it would not be surprising if one or both were more properly placed in this 

 sub-family, in more immediate connexion with Macrorhamphus, 



Section TOTANEAE. 



Ch. — Bill slender, straight, not exceeding the tarsus ; more or less attenuated for the terminal fourth, and pointed at the tip. 

 Bill hard and horny for much of the terminal half; the lateral grooves shallow. Toes anteriorly connected by membrane. 

 Tail strongly barred, except in Heterosceliis, which also has the tarsus reticulated behind. 



The Totaneae are distinguished from Numenieae by the transverse scutellae on the back of 

 tarsus ; from the Limoseae, by the shorter and more deeply cleft bill. From Tringeae they may 

 be known by the fact that the toes are almost always webbed at the base, although the web is 

 usually confined to the outer toe, while in the rare instances where there is a web in Tringeae 

 {Ereunetes and Micropalama) it extends to the inner also. The bill is much harder and stronger 

 more tapering and pointed, usually a little recurved, and without the papillose or toitted 



