102 MANUAL 



Sub-family a HAEMATOPODINAE Oyster- 

 Catchers 



Tarsus less than bill, reticulate in front, outer toes with a 

 barely apparent membrane, no hind toe ; bill long, flattened, 

 and prominent. Length over 12 inches. 



Genus, Hcematopus, (3 species). 



Sub-family b STREPSILAINAE Turnstones 



Tarsus longer than bill, scutellate in front, outer toes with- 

 out membrane, hind toe present ; bill short and pointed and 

 not prominent. Length under 12 inches. 



Genus, Strepsilas, (2 species). 



These genera are all stable and without sjmonyms that need annoy us. 



FAMILY XXXIX RECURVIROSTRIDAE THE 

 AVOCETS AND STILTS 



Latin recurvus, recurved ; rostrum, a bill. 

 This is still another family whose peculiarities of structure 

 at once determine its members with very little difficulty. It 

 is not, like the former family, divided into sub-families ; al- 

 though the genera are very decidedly different from each other. 

 The family, as a family, is at once known by the long, slender, 

 and often extraordinarily recurved bill ; the long, small neck ; 

 and the immense long, bare legs (tarsus and nearly the entire 

 length of the tibia bare). Reeurvirostra has four toes with 

 complete webs and long and strongly recurved bill, while JSi- 

 mantopus has three toes almost wholly unwebbed and with bill 

 much shorter and almost straight. The previous table will 

 give further characters. Although " Shore " birds they are 

 more abundant inland by fresh water. 



Genera, Reeurvirostra, The American Avocet. 

 Himantopus, The Black-necked Stilt. 



These two genera were formerly merged in one, Reeurvirostra. Their po- 

 sition in the scale may at any time be changed, but the genera are stable. 



