BIRDS OF NORTH AND MIDDLE AMERICA. 435 
Rhode Island, 1 spec., Aug. 2, 1880).—Merriam, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, 
vii, 1882, 238 (Point de Monts, Quebec, in fall migration) —Dutcurr, Auk, 
i, 1884, 33 (Shinnecock Bay, Long Island, 1 spec., Aug. 20, 1883).—Bairp, 
Brewer, and Ripeway, Water Birds N. Am., i, 1884, 335.—LaAwRENCE 
(N.T.), Auk, ii, 1885, 273 (East River, New York City, 1 spec., Oct. 15, 1879), 
Slteganopus] wilsont Netson, Bull. Essex Inst., viii, 1876, 124 (n. e. Illinois, 
breeding; habits).—Cours, Key N. Am. Birds, 2nd ed., 1884, 612. _ 
Phalaropus fimbriatus TemMincx, Pl. Col., v (livr. 2, Sept., 1825), pl. 370 (‘‘Séné- 
gal”). 
Phalaropus frenatus Viertiot, Gal. Ois., ii, 1826, 178, pl. 271 (New York; coll. 
Rivoli).—Pzizzun, Reise ‘Novara,’ Vég., 1865, 132 (Chile). 
Lobtpes frenatus Cuvimr, Régne Anim., 2nd ed., i, 1829, 532. 
Lobipes incanus JARDINE amd SELBY, Jllustr. Orn., i, 1825, pl. 16 (Mexico; coll. 
W. Jardine; type now in coll. Brit. Mus.). 
Ph{alaropus] stenodactylus WaGLER, Isis, 1831, 523 (Mexico; winter plumage). 
Lobipes antarcticus ScuatTer, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1867, 332 (crit.). 
Family RECURVIROSTRIDA. 
THE AVOCETS AND STILTS. 
=Recurvirosirine Bonaparte, Saggio distr. Anim. Vertebr., 1831, 59.—Carus, 
Handb. Zool., i, 1868, 336.—SciareR and Satvin, Nom. Av. Neotr., 1873, 
144._STEJNEGER, Standard Nat. Hist., iv, 1885, 107, in text. 
=Recurvirostride Cassin, in Baird, Rep. Pacific R. R. Surv., ix, 1858, 689, 703.— 
Couss, Key N. Am. Birds, 1872, 247; 2nd ed., 1884, 609.—Ripeway, Ann. 
Lyc. N. Y., x, 1874, 385; Bull. Ills. State Labr. Nat. Hist., no. 4, 1881, 197; 
Man. N. Am. Birds, 1887, 146.—Barrp, Brewer, and Ripaway, Water 
Birds N. Am., i, 1884, 108, 340.—AmeRican OrniTHOLOGISTS’ UNION, 
Check List, 1886, 146; 3rd ed., 1910, 108.—OsrrHotseR, Outl. Classif. N. 
Am. Birds, 1905, 3. 
=Himantopodine Suarrr, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., xxiv, 1896, xi, 90, 309; Hand- 
list, i, 1899, xv, 156.—Satvin and Gopman, Biol. Centr.-Am., Aves, iii 
1903, 360. 
>Phalaropodide Bonaparte, Saggio distr. Anim. Vertebr., 1831, 59. 
¥ 
Extremely long-legged, long-necked, long- and slender-billed Char- 
adrii with tarsus more than twice as long as middle toe with claw, 
covered, all round, with small hexagonal scales; bare portion of tibia 
much longer than middle toe with claw; bill subulate, much longer 
than head, straight or more or less (sometimes conspicuously) 
recurved; feet more or less webbed; hallux absent or if present 
rudimentary; neck more lengthened than in other Charadrii, and 
plumage of under parts very dense, as in Phalaropodide, Laride, and 
other natatorial Charadriiformes. 
The Recurvirostride agree with the Phalaropodide in the density 
of the plumage on the under parts of the body, and are probably more 
nearly related to them than to any other of the allied groups. Not- 
withstanding their excessively long legs they are able to swim with 
great facility. 
‘The family is partly of tropical or subtropical distribution and 
few in number as to species. Only three genera are recognized, one 
