OF THE BEITISH ISLANDS. 187 



Subfamily TOTANIN^.— The Semi=web=footed 

 Sandpipers, or Tatlers. 



The Semi-web-footed Sandpipers may be distinguished from other members 

 of the CHARADRiiDiE by having the middle and outermost toes connected by a 

 web at the base, and a similar but smaller web connecting the inner and middle 

 toes. The nasal groove extends along the greater part of the upper mandible, 

 but the nasal orifice is situated within the basal fourth of it. The metatarsus 

 is scutellated in front, and in the majority of species behind as well. This 

 subfamily has been recently subdivided into no less than seventeen genera by 

 Dr. Sharpe, but probably not more than a third of these are worthy of distinction. 



Genus NUMENIUS, or Curlews, 



Type, NUMENIUS AEQUATUS. 



Numenius, of Brisson (1760). — ^The birds comprising the present genus 

 are characterised by having the metatarsus scutellated in front and reticulated 

 behind, and the bill sufficiently arched for the point to be considerably lower 

 than the plane of the gape.* The wings are long and pointed; tail nearly 

 square. The metatarsus is rather long and slender, the lower portion of the tibia 

 devoid of feathers. The bill is long, slender, and decurved ; nostrils lateral, 

 linear, and situated within the basal fourth part of the bill. 



This genus is composed of ten species and subspecies confined to the 

 Palsearctic and Nearctic regions during summer, but more cosmopolitan during 

 winter. Three species are included as British, one a very rare abnormal migrant, 

 one a common resident, and one best known on passage and in winter. 



The Curlews are dwellers on moors, marshes, and upland wastes in summer, 

 of sea coasts during winter. They are birds of rapid and well sustained flight, 

 and walk and run with ease. Their notes are clear, loud, and not unmusical. 

 They subsist on worms, mollusks, insects, and fruit. They make slight nests on 

 the ground, and their pyriform eggs are four in number and double-spotted. 

 They are monogamous ; during winter they are gregarious, and even in summer 

 somewhat sociable. They are shy and wary, and their flesh is not unpalatable. 



* Not having had access to a very large series of specimens of Numenius, I cannot speak with 

 absolute certainty, but probably the plane of the gape does not extend beyond the basal half of the 

 upper mandible. 



