CHAPTER IX. 



CHABADBIID^. 



Diagnosis of 

 family. 



Subfamilies. 



The diagnosis of the family of which this work treats can only be written by some 

 ornithologist who possesses an accurate knowledge of the external and internal characters 

 of all birds, an ideal naturalist who does not yet exist. 



The birds comprised in the family may be separated into three groups or subfamilies. 

 The diagnosis of these three subfamilies is a very easy matter, but they are so intimately 

 connected with each other that the subdivision must be regarded as very probably artificial 

 to a considerable extent. 



KEY TO THE SUBFAMILIES. 



a. Middle and outer toes connected by a web at the base. 



a 1 . Nasal aperture extending beyond the basal fourth of the bill. . CHAKADRIIN2E. 

 b l . Nasal aperture not extending beyond the basal fourth of the bill TOTAUTNiE. 



b. Toes all cleft to the base SCOLOPACIN^l. 



Diagnosis. 



Characters 

 of sub- 

 family. 



Genera. 



Subfamily C H AE ADRIIN-Sl. 



Charadriid^: digit.o externo cum medio ad basin membrana comiexo : narium apertura ultra 

 partem quartam rostri a basi extensa. 



The Charadriinse may be diagnosed as follows : — 



Charadriidse having the outer and middle toes united by a web at the base; and 

 having the nasal aperture extending beyond the basal fourth of the bill. 



About a hundred birds belonging to this family possess both these characters, and 

 appear to be more nearly related to each other than they are to the remaining species. 



They may be divided into six well-marked genera, most of which are founded upon 

 so-called structural characters, but some are dependent upon characters of comparatively 

 small importance, though in most cases it will be found that these apparently insignificant 



