CHAPTER XIV. 



Sternum of Cursorius bitorquatus. 



Genus CURSORIUS. 



Charadriix.e cauda fequali : tarso scutellato : halluce nullo : naribus vix in suleis positis. 



Diagnosis of 

 arenas. 



The Coursers form a group of birds which are intermediate between the Pratincoles and 

 the Lapwings, and are probably almost as closely allied to the Bustards and Stone-Curlews 

 on the one hand, and to the Plovers on the other. The Lapwings and Plovers, like the 

 Sandpipers, Snipes, and most other birds belonging to the family, have the nasal orifice 

 placed in a groove or ditch which extends for some distance beyond it ; but in Otis, 

 Cursorius, and Pratincola there is no nasal groove, the nasal orifice being placed in a 

 depression not more elongated than itself. From Otis, Cursorius may be distinguished by 

 its scutellated tarsus, and from Pratincola by its having neither a forked tail nor a 

 hind toe. 



The eggs of the Coursers, like those of the Pratincoles, differ from those of all other 



Nearest 

 allies. 



Generic 

 characters. 



