494 A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



to be present in all : Schizognathous ; holorhinal, but see Burhinus. 

 Cervical vertebrae 15 or 16. Sternum with spina externa but no 

 interna. Hallux (if present) connected with the flexor longus 

 hallucis, not with the perforans digit or um. Oil-gland tufted. 

 Aftershaft present, though sometimes very small. Pullus nidifugous, 

 covered with often beautifully marked and coloured down. Eggs 

 spotted, except in Dromas. Division into families is somewhat 

 unsatisfactory, but I cannot endorse the popular recognition of 

 " Charadriidce " and " Scolopacidce " and can only recognize at 

 present three in Europe. 



Key to families of Order Limicolje. 



, /Nostrils typically schizorhinal, cervical vertebrae 15 2 



\ Nostrils not typically schizorhinal, cervical vertebrae 1 6 . Burhinidce 



2 /Basi-pterygoid processes absent Cursoriidce 



\ Basi-pterygoid processes present Charadriidce 



Family BURHINLD^. 



Contains the Stone -Curlew and tropical allies, mostly with 

 longer legs. Nostrils not typically schizorhinal, generally described 

 as holorhinal, but more correctly pseudo -holorhinal, longitudinal, 

 in about middle of bill. No basi-pterygoid processes. Tarsi in 

 front and behind with hexagonal scutes, no hind toe. Eyes very 

 large. Habits more or less crepuscular or nocturnal. About 15 

 species and various subspecies, in 2 or 3 genera. In Europe only 

 one. 



Genus BURHINUS 111. 



Btjrhinus Illiger, Prodromus Mamm. et Av., p. 250 (1811 — Monotype, 

 " Charadrius magnirostris Lath. Suppl."). 



Bill a little shorter than head, tail with 12, rarely 14, rectrices, 

 much rounded to cuneiform. Wings long and pointed, 1st and 2nd 

 or 2nd and 3rd developed primaries nearly equal and longest, inner 

 secondaries nearly or quite as long as primaries. Sexes alike. 

 About 7 species and several subspecies in Europe, Africa, Asia to 

 Australia and Middle and South America. Only 1 in British Isles. 



l^p* Note. — The whole of the Descriptions and paragraphs on 

 Characters in all species of the Waders (Order Limicol^:) are by 

 Miss A. C. Jackson (now Mrs. R. Meinertzhagen). 



BURHINUS CEDICNEMUS 



2,66. Burhinus oedicnemus oedicnemus (L.) — THE STONE- 

 CURLEW. 



Charadrius (Edicnemus Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., ed. x, i, p. 151 (1758 — 



England). 



(Edicnemus scolopax (S. G. Gmelin), Yarrell, in, p. 225 ; Saunders, p. 529. 



Description. — Adult male and female. Winter. — Crown warm buff, 

 heavily streaked black-brown or sepia ; nape same but streaks 

 narrower ; mantle black-brown, edges of feathers lighter and 



