MANUAL OF NATURAL HISTORY. 49 



1. Family. — Plovers (Charadriidae). Bill variable 



in length, basal half soft and weak, apical 

 part hard, with culmen generally somewhat 

 elevated and curved to tip, which is more or 

 less pointed ; nasal groove deep, extending 

 about half the length of the bill ; tarsi more 

 or less lengthened ; toes connected at their 

 base by a membrane, hind toe small or 

 wanting ; wings long and pointed ; tail 

 generally broad and even. 



The Oyster-catchers (Hcematopodince) have 

 the bill long, much compressed, and trun- 

 cate. 



2. Family. — Herons (Ardeidse). Bill long, more 



or less slender, compressed, pointed ; long 

 much depressed and spatuliform, long slen- 

 der and arcuated, or short with culmen 

 curved to tip ; tarsi long and slender ; toes 

 lengthened and furnished with acute curved 

 claws ; neck long and slender ; back gene- 

 rally much arched ; wings usually rounded ; 

 tail mostly short and even. 



3. Family. — Snipes (Scolopacidse). Bill more or 



less lengthened, slender, generally obtuse, 

 straight, arcuated or recurved, soft for a 

 considerable portion of its length ; culmen 

 sometimes curved at tip ; upper mandible 

 grooved to near tip, which is sometimes 

 dilated ; nostrils basal, placed in groove ; 

 tarsi variable in length, slender; toes more 

 or less connected by a membrane ; wings 



