34 BLACK-NECKED STILT. 



sterno-traeheal slender. The bronchi are very short, with about 10 half 

 rings. 



The Prince of Musignano has introduced into his lately published list a 

 species of this genus, under the name of Himantopus Mexicanus. I have 

 received from Florida two skins, which from their large size might at first 

 sight be thought to differ from the common kind; but after closely comparing 

 them with my other specimens, I can find no difference indicative of a dis- 

 tinction of species. Nor have I ever met with individuals in North Ame- 

 rica of any other species than that above described. 



Genus X.— NUMENIUS, Briss. CURLEW. 



Bill very long, slender, sub-cylindrical, slightly compressed, more or less 

 arcuate or decurved; upper mandible with the ridge broad and flattened at 

 the base, broad and rounded in the rest of its extent, a deep groove running 

 from the nostrils to near the tip, which is decurved, enlarged so as to form 

 an oblong obtuse knob, projecting beyond the point of the lower mandible, 

 the edges rounded; lower mandible similar in its curvature to the upper, its 

 angle extremely narrow, and extending to near the middle, the ridge 

 rounded, the sides with a shallow groove to near the end, the edges directly 

 meeting those of the upper, the tip obtuse. Head rather small, oblong, com- 

 pressed; neck long; body compact. Feet long; tibia bare below; tarsus 

 scaly above, scutellate for two-thirds; toes rather small, scutellate, first very 

 small, lateral nearly equal. Claws small, compressed, blunted. Wings long, 

 very acute, the first quill longest, some of the inner secondaries greatly elon- 

 gated. Tail short, much rounded, of twelve rounded feathers. 



