Genus LIMICOLA. 



Numenius apud Bechstein, Orn. Taschenb. p. 277 (1802). 

 Triilga apud Temminck, Man. d'Orn. p. 398 (1815). 

 Limicola, Koch, Baier. Zool. i. p. 316 (1816). 

 Falcinellus apud Kaup, Natiirl. Syst. p. 37 (1829). 

 Pelidna apud Bonaparte, Comp. List, p. 50 (1838). 



This genus contains only two, closely allied species: — Limicola platyrhyncha, which inhabits the 

 Palsearctic Region about as far east as the Himalayas, the Oriental and Ethiopian Regions ; and 

 Limicola sibirica, which replaces Limicola platyrhyncha in the eastern portion of the Palsearctic 

 Region. 



These birds frequent the shores of lakes, marshes, and damp, inland places, not being, as a 

 rule, found on the sea-coast. They walk with ease and run tolerably fast, resembling, to a great 

 extent, the Jack Snipe both in their general movements and in their flight. I have never heard 

 the note of the Broad -billed Sandpiper ; but it is said to utter a loud twittering call when on the 

 wing. These birds feed on small worms and insects of various kinds, which they pick up in the 

 marshes and on the shores of lakes and pools. Their nest is a rather deep depression in a 

 tussock in some marshy place, lined with grass or withered leaves ; and the eggs, four in number, 

 are lighter or darker stone-buff, closely marked with dark umber or rich reddish brown. 



Limicola platyrhyncha, the type of the genus, has the bill much longer than the head, nearly 

 as broad as high at the base, very flat and wide up to the tip, where it is gradually rounded to 

 an obtuse point, terminal portion of the bill slightly decurved, nasal depression short ; nostrils 

 small, basal, elongated ; wings very long, pointed, the first quill longest, inner secondaries rather 

 long and pointed ; tail doubly emarginate, moderately long ; legs rather short, slender, the tibia 

 bare on the lower part ; tarsus scutellate ; hind toe moderate, anterior toes long, slender, slightly 

 webbed at the base ; claws slender, slightly curved, obtuse, that on the middle toe a little 

 dilated on the inner edge. 



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