LIMOSINjE. 
Numenius  Lath.* 
BUI  more  or  less  long,  slender,  and  curved  from  the  base,  with  the  sides  compressed  and  grooved  for 
nearly  its  whole  length;  the  ti]>  of  the  upper  mandible  projecting  over  that  of  the  lower,  and  rather 
obtuse  ;  the  nostrils  basal,  lateral,  and  plaeed  in  the  lateral  groove,  with  the  opening  longitudinal,  and 
covered  by  a  membrane.  117////.?  long  and  pointed,  with  the  first  quill  the  longest.  Tail  short  and 
even.  Tarsi  longer  than  the  middle  toe,  slender,  and  covered  in  front  with  narrow  transverse  scales. 
Toes  moderate  ;  the  lateral  toes  unequal,  and  united  at  their  bases  ;  the  hind  toe  long,  slender,  and 
partly  resting  on  the  ground;  the  claws  short  and  obtuse. 
The  species  of  this  genus  are  scattered  throughout  the  world,  inhabiting  the  temperate  regions  during  the  winter, 
when  they  are  usually  found  on  the  muddy  and  sandy  shores,  and  salt  marshes;  hut  on  the  return  of  summer  they 
migrate  to  the  higher  latitudes,  where  they  frequent  the  moors  and  extensive  plains  that  abound  in  marshes  and  pools 
of  water.  Their  (light  is  elevated,  rapid,  and  in  a  body  assuming  a  wedge-shaped  form,  often  uttering  their  loud 
whistling  note.  When  on  the  point  of  migrating  they  collect  together  in  a  large  flock  ;  and,  as  soon  as  they  arc  suffieiently 
numerous,  they  generally  about  an  hour  before  sunset  rise  to  a  great  height  in  the  air,  and  then  slowly  start  off  in  one 
continued  line  towards  their  destination,  at  the  same  time  keeping  up  a  constant  whistling,  which  is  responded  to  by  each 
bird  of  the  flock.  Their  food  consists  of  worms,  larvaj  of  insects,  crustaccous  and  molluscous  animals  ;  these  they  extract 
from  the  sand  and  moistened  earth  by  probing  with  their  long  bills,  even  beneath  the  surface  of  the  shallow  water : 
sometimes  they  frequent  the  fields  and  woodlands  in  search  of  berries.  The  nests  are  formed  on  the  ground  amongst 
the  heath  or  herbage,  in  a  hole  scraped  in  the  earth,  and  lined  with  decayed  grass,  &c.    The  female  deposits  four  eggs. 
1.  N.  arqiiatus  (Linn.)  PI.  enl.  818.,  Gould,  B.  of  Eur.  pi.  302.  (      10.  N.  pha-opus  Linn.  PL  enl.  84,2.,  Edwards's  Birds,  pi.  307., 
2.  N.  synycuicos  Von  der  Mulhe,  Beitr.  zur  Ornith.  Griechen-  j  Gould,  B.  of  Eur.  pi.  303. —  Phscopus  vulgaris  Flem.  ;  Type  of 
lands,  &c. 
3.  N.  cyanopus  Vicill.  N.  Diet.  d'Hist.  Nat.  viii.  p.  306". — 
Numenius  australasianus  Gould. 
4.  ?  N.  lineatus  Cuv.  Less.  Tr.  d'Orn.  p.  565. 
5.  N.  madagascariensis  (Linn.)  Lath.  PI.  enl.  108. 
6.  N.  tahitieruis  (Gmel.)  Lath.  —  Scolopax  phreopus  Linn.  ? 
Foist.  Descr.  Anim.  p.  242.,  Icon.  ined.  110. 
7.  N.  luzoniensis  (Gmel.)  Lath.  Sonn.  Voy.  t.  48  Numenius 
atricapillus  Vieill.  15.  N.  miitutus  Gould,  Proc.  Z.  S.  1840.  p.  1 76. 
8   N.  leucocephalus  (Gmel.)  Lath.  Gen.  Syn.  pi.  80.  16.  N.  minor  Mull.  &  Schl.  Verh.  Nat.  Gesch.  &c.  p.  110. 
9.  N.  longirostris  Wils.  Amer.  Orn.  pi.  64.  f.  4.  —  Numenius  ' 
melanops  Vieill.  Auduh.  P.  of  Amcr.  pi.  231. 
Phaeopus  Cuv.  (1817). 
11.  N.  tenuirostris  Vieill.  N.  Diet.  d'Hist.  Nat.  viii.  p.  308., 
Pr,  Bonap.  Faun.  Italica,  t. 
12.  N.  uropygialis  Gould,  Proc.  Z.  S.  1840.  p.  175. 
13.  N.  hudsonieus  Lath.  —  Scolopax  horealis  Wils.  Amer.  Orn. 
pi.  56.  f.  1.  ;  Numenius  rufiventris  Vigors.  ? 
1 4.  N.  borcalis  Lath.  Fauna,  Bor.  Amer.  Birds,  pi.  65.  —  Nu- 
menius brevirostris  Licht.  PI.  col.  381. 
Limosa  Briss.f 
Bill  long,  rather  slender,  and  more  or  less  inclined  upwards  towards  the  tip,  with  the  sides  compressed 
and  grooved  on  both  mandibles  for  nearly  their  entire  length  ;  the  nostrils  lateral,  basal,  and  placed  in 
the  groove,  with  the  opening  longitudinal,  and  closed  by  a  membrane.     Wings  long  and  pointed;  with 
*  Established  by  Mcehring  in  1752  (Gen.  Avium).    Phceopus  of  Cuvier  (1817)  is  synonymous. 
t  Brisson  established  this  division  in  1760.  Actitis  of  Illiger  (181 1),  Limicula  of  Vieillot  (1816),  Fedoa  of  Mr.  Stephen  (1824\  and 
Xenus  of  Dr.  Kaup  (1829)  are  coequal  with  the  latter  name  ;  Terekia  of  the  Prince  of  Canino  ( !  838)  and  Simorhynchus  of  Count  Kerserling 
and  Dr.  Blasius  (1840)  are  synonymous. 
7  K 
