BIRDS OF NORTH AND MIDDLE AMERICA, 57 
Family APHRIZIDA. 
THE SURF BIRDS. 
>Strepsilasine Sctatsr and Satvin, Nom. Av. Neotr., 1873, 143 (includes Arena- 
riide). 
>Strepsilide Barrp, Brewer, and Rineway, Water Birds N. Am., i, 1884, 107, 
118. (includes Arenariide). 
=Aphrizinz Cours, Key N. Am. Birds, 2d ed., 1884, 605.— AMERICAN ORNITHOL- 
oaists’ Union, Check List, 1886, 164; 3rd ed., 1910, 131. 
>Aphrizide Cours, Key N. Am. Birds, 2d ed., 1884, 605, in text (includes 
Arenariide).—AMERICAN OrniTHOLOGISTS’ Union, Check List, 1886, 164; 
3rd ed., 1910, 181 (includes Arenariidee)—Ripaway, Orn. Illinois, ii, 1895, 
18, 20 (includes Arenariide). 
=Aphrizide SaurEtpt, Journ. Morph., ii, no. 2, Nov., 1888, 338.—OBERHOLSER, 
Outl. Classif. N. Am. Birds, 1905, 2. 
Medium-sized Charadrii with a well-developed though small hal- 
lux, anterior toes margined laterally by a conspicuous tumid mem- 
brane or pad, acrotarsium (but not planta tarsi) regularly trans- 
versely scutellate, bill plover-like (swollen distally, contracted 
proximally), and tip of tail emarginate. 
The Aphrizide are medium-sized plover-like birds, more nearly 
related to the Turnstones (Arenariide) than to the true plovers 
(Charadriide) though much nearer the latter in the form of the bill. 
With the Arenartide the Aphrizide agree in the stout legs and feet, 
well-developed hallux, and scutellate acrotarsium, though differing, 
besides in the form of the bill, which is very unlike in the two groups, 
in the emarginate tail, reticulate instead of scutellate planta tarsi, 
and strongly developed lateral tumid membrane to the anterior toes. 
The Surf Birds comprise a single monotypic genus, restricted in 
its range to the Pacific coast of America. 
The single genus representing this family has sometimes been 
placed with the Charadriide and sometimes with the Arenariide, but 
is quite distinct from either. From the former the Aphrizide differ 
in the completely cleft anterior toes, with distinct lateral serrated 
membrane; well-developed and nearly incumbent hallux, robust feet 
(which are even stouter than those of the Arenarlide), and emarginate 
tail. The differences between Aphrizide and Arenariide are equally 
marked and may be concisely stated as follows: 
a. Bill distinctly convex terminally and constricted subterminally, neither the max- 
illa nor mandible depressed terminally; lateral grooves of bill extending to base 
of convex terminal portion; legs and feet much more robust, the lateral mem- 
brane of anterior toes more strongly developed, distinctly roughened or serrate; 
transverse scutella of acrotarsium broken into hexagonal scales on upper and 
lower portions; planta tarsi reticulate; tail emarginate.............. Aphrizide. 
aa. Bill tapering to the acute tip, not constricted subterminally, both maxilla and 
mandible flattened at tip; lateral grooves of bill extending not more than half 
way to tip; legs and feet more slender, the lateral membrane of anterior toes 
less developed, smoother; transverse scutella of acrotarsium continuous; planta 
tarsi scutellate; tail truncate.................0.2-.22222---02--5-- Arenariide. 
