CHAPTER XXV. 



Subfamily S C L OP ACIN M. 



CitaradriiDjE digitis omnibus ad basin liberis. Diagnosis of 



subfamily. 



The diagnosis of the Scolopacinse is extremely simple : — Characters 



Charadriidse having all the toes cleft to the base. of sub- 



About sixty birds possess this character which are probably more nearly related to 



each other than they are to the rest of the family, though Tringa minutilla resembles 



Ereunetes pusillus very closely, and Strepsilas possesses characters which closely resemble 



those of Charadrius and Vanellus. 



Only five genera appear to possess characters of sufficient importance to entitle them Genera. 



to recognition. 



KEY TO THE GENERA. 



a. Tarsus much more than half the length of the bill. 



a 1 . Difference in length between the shortest and longest primary 

 much more than the length of the bill. 

 a-. First primary much longer than the fourth. 



a 3 . Nasal aperture extending beyond the basal fourth of bill . Strepsilas. 

 lr'. Nasal aperture situated within the basal fourth of bill . . Tringa. 



b~. First primary not longer than the fourth Phegornis. 



6 l . Difference in length between the shortest and longest primary 



much less than the length of the bill Rhynch^ea. 



b. Bill twice the length of the tarsus Scolopax. 



