62 BULLETIN 50, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 
>Charadriine Cours, Key N. Am. Birds, 2d ed., 1884, 597 (includes Aph 
rizidee).—ScuaTeR and Sanvin, Nom. Av. Neotr., 1873, 142 (includes 
Aphrizide and Arenariide).—Satvin and GopMan, Biol. Centr.-Am., 
Aves, iii, 1903, 350 (includes Aphrizide). 
><Charadriine Suarre, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., xxiv, 1896, x, 90, 145; 
Hand-list, i, 1899, xv, 150 (includes Aphrizide; excludes ‘‘Lobivanel- 
line”). 
Spe Barrp, BREWER, and Ripeway, Water Birds N. Am.,i, 1884, 
108, 128 (excludes Anarhynchus). bs 
=Charadriide AMERICAN OrniTHOLOGIsTS’ Union, Check List, 1886, 160; 3d 
ed., 1910, 126—Oxsrruotser, Outl. Classif. N. Am. Birds, 1905, 2. 
<Lobivanellinz Saarre, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., xxiv, 1896, x, 90, 122; Hand. 
list, i, 1899, xv, 148 (genera Oreophilus, Erythrogonys, Defilippia, Sar- 
ciophorus, Lobipluvia, Microsarcops, Aoploxypterus, Ptiloscelys, and 
Lobivanellus). 
<Anarhynchide Barrp, Brewer, and Ripeway, Water Birds N. Am., i, 
1884, 108, 
Large to very small Charadrii with bill shorter than head, more or 
less swollen terminally and contracted in middle portion; hallux 
usually absent, rarely well developed, never as long as basal phalanx 
of outer toe; tarsus without regular transverse scutella, either before 
or behind, but covered all round with small hexagonal scales, these 
usually larger, and sometines with transverse tendency, on the 
acrotarsium, where, however, never forming a single continuous 
series. 
The Charadriide are small or medium sized (Sometimes rather 
large) coursing birds (scarcely waders) with pigeon-like bill, relatively 
large, round head, short neck, long and pointed wings, moderately 
long legs with reticulated tarsi and relatively short toes, of which the 
hinder one or hallux is usually wanting and never very large. They 
frequent meadows, sea-shores, and other open tracts, whether grassy, 
barren, or sandy, and run swiftly along the ground in a peculiarly 
graceful manner. Many of them have melodious notes, though no 
true song. 
The family is cosmopolitan, but not very numerous as to species, 
America possessing about twenty-five, belonging to about thirteen 
genera, of which three species (representing two Palearctic and one 
cosmopolitan genera) are properly stragglers from the Old World. 
KEY TO THE AMERICAN GENERA OF CHARADRIIDZE. 
a. Head crested; plumage of upper parts more or less metallic; large (wing more than 
210 mm.). 
b. Crest slender, pointed, recurved; hallux well-developed; wing rounded, the 
outermost primary shorter than fourth (from outside). 
c. Wing unarmed or with metacarpal spur very small (rudimentary); tarsus not. 
more than twice as long as middle toe. .... sissy earacrey serena Vanellus (p. 64). 
cc. Wing armed with a very prominent sharp, curved-conical metacarpal spur;. 
tarsus more than twice as long as middle toe... Belonopterus (extralimital) ¢ 
a Belonopterus Reichenbach, Handb. (Av. Syst. Nat.), 1858, p. xviii (type, by origi- 
nal designation, Charadrius cayennensis Gmelin). (South America; three species.) 
