106 MANUAL 



Burmeister, however, seems more natural in associating Trin- 

 gem with Scolopaceje under Scolopacin^e. On this basis 

 the two sub-families may be characterised as follows : 



Scolopacin^e. — Bill covered with soft skin to the sensi- 

 tive, vascular, thickened, or laterally expanded tip. 

 Uncovered portion of tibia short, stout. Body and 

 legs rather stout. Neck rather short and stout. Toes 

 generally cleft to the base, (not in 3facrorhamphus and 

 Micropalama, &c.) Gape of mouth very small, not ex- 

 tending beyond the base of culmen. 

 Totanin^e. — Bill covered with soft skin towards the 

 base ; the terminal portion hard, horny, and more or 

 less attenuated. Body more slender. Legs and neck 

 slender and lengthened. Toes generally with a basal 

 web. Gape of mouth larger, always extending beyond 

 base of culmen (except in Limosa.) 



Sub-family Scolopacin^:. 



Bill swollen at the end, and covered almost to the tip with 

 a soft skin, the edges only of the rather valted tip horny. 

 The end of the upper bill generally bent a little over the tip 

 of lower. The jaw bone in typical genera finely porous, and 

 perforated by vessels and nerves, imparting a high degree of 

 sensibility to the bill, enabling it to find food in the mud. 

 After death the end of the bill is usually pitted. Legs rather 

 stout ; the naked portion of the tibia much abbreviated. The 

 hind toe well developed and generally present ; the toes usu- 

 ally without basal membraue, (except in Macrorhamphus, etc.) 



Under the head of Scolopacin^e, as at present defined, I 

 range two tribes with the following brief diagnosis : 



A. Scolopace^e. — Bill much longer than the head or than 

 the naked leg ; the end of the upper jaw thickened 

 and bent over beyond the tip of lower. Roof of mouth 

 not excavated to the tip. A longitudinal furrow along 

 the culmen towards the end. External ear placed be- 

 neath or anterior to the eye. Tail banded ? 



B. Trixge^e. — Bill shorter than the naked leg, widened 



