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PRiECOCIAL G-RALLATORES — LIMICOLA1. 
Family RECURVIROSTRIIAE. — The Ayocets and Stilts. 
The Rccurvirostriclce, in addition to the features already mentioned (see p. 108), 
are characterized by the excessive length of the legs, with very long slender neck 
and subulate, elongated bill. The plumage has the same dense, soft character as 
that of the Plicdciropodidce, Fulicince, and Longipennes. 
The three known genera, only two of which occur in America, differ as follows : — 
A. Hind toe present. 
1. Recurvirostra. Anterior toes all webbed ; bill recurved. 
18. Hind toe wanting. 
2. Cladorhynchus . 1 Toes all webbed ; bill perfectly straight, excessively depressed ; tarsus 
but little if any longer than bill. 
3. Himantopus. No web between inner and middle toes, and web between outer and 
middle toes quite small ; bill very slightly recurved from the middle, cylindrical or 
scarcely depressed ; tarsus much longer than the bill. 
Gexus RECURVIROSTRA, Linnasus. 
Recurvirostra, Linn. Syst. Nat. ed. 10, 1. 1758, 151 (type!?, avocetta, L. ). 
Char. Hind toe rudimentary, but distinct ; anterior toes united to the claws by a much 
emarginated membrane. Bill depressed, decidedly recurved, extended into a fine point, which is 
slightly decurved. Tail covered by the wings. 
R. americana. 
The species of Avocet are few in number, there being one peculiar to North America, South 
America, Australia, and Europe, respectively. The two American species may be distinguished 
as follows : — 
1 Cladorhynchus, G. R. Gray, Gen. B. III. 1840, 577, pi. 155, fig. 1 (type, Leptorhynchus pectoralis, 
Du Bus). 
