644 
SYSTEMATIC SYNOPSIS. —LIMICOL^. 
dible. Wings and tail ordinary ; latter barred in color. Legs rather stout ; tibiae largely 
denuded below ; tarsus much longer than middle toe and claw, scutellate in front only, else- 
where reticulate. Toes short and thick, flattened underneath, broadly margined on sides. 
Of large and medium stature, and plump form. Coloration variegated ; rufous usually prevail- 
ing. Sexes alike ; changes of plumage not pronounced. A cosmopolitan genus of several 
species ; in character of bill unique, in that of the legs very similar to Limosa. In fact, 
barring the bill, Numenius longirostris closely resembles Limosa foeda. It is a curious fact 
that Old and New World representatives of both these genera differ from each other in a simi- 
lar manner, the former having the rump, tail and its coverts, and lining of wings white, barred 
or not, while some or all of these parts in the latter are dark. Compare Limosa fceda with i. 
uropygialis ; L. hudsonica with L. lapponica ; Numenius hudsonicus with N. phcBopus, etc. 
Fig. 451. — The European Curlew, Ntimenius arquatus, \ nat. size. (From Brelim.) 
Analysis of Species. 
Feathers of belly bristle-tipped taitensis 647 
Feathers of belly normal. 
Rump white, more or less spotted with dusky^ 
Upper tail-coverts and under wing-coverts white spotted and barred with dusky . . phmopus 644 
Rump, upper tail-coverts and lining of wings not white. 
Primaries varied with rufous. General coloration strongly rufous, especially below ; lining of 
wings deepest rufous, little or not varied. Large ; bill 4-6-8 inches longirostris 643 
Primaries varied with rufous or whitish. General coloration scarcely or not rufous; lining of 
wings entirely varied. Medium-sized ; bill 3-4 inches hudsonicus 645 
Primaries not varied with rufous or whitish. General coloration scarcely or not rufous ; lining 
of wings entirely varied. Smallest ; bill under 3 inches borealis 646 
