246 
AVES. 
stouter and proportionally less flexible than in the preceding, is used by them to turn over stones to 
search for the worms that lie beneath them. [Its form is not unlike that of a Nuthatch’s hill.] 
The two species doubtfully indicated by the author are merely the same in different states of plumage : it 
is a bird of remarkably wide geographic range, and tolerably plentiful on the British coasts : its affinitv is rather 
with the Oyster-catchers and Plovers]. 
The Gambets {Totanus, Cuv.) — 
Have a slender, round, pointed, and solid beak, the nasal groove of which only extends half its length, 
and the upper mandible is slightly arcuated towards the tip. Their form is slight, and legs elevated : 
the thumb hardly touches the ground, and the palmation of their outer toe is well-marked. The 
species are each found nearly all over the world, [or rather, there are many difficult of determination 
apart, which has induced the latter opinion.] 
The Greenshank Gambet {Scol. glottis, Lin.).— As large as a [rather small] Godwit, wdththe beak comparatively 
stout, [and a little recurved] ; ashy-brown above and on the sides, with the margins of the feathers punctated with 
brown, the croup and belly white, and tail rayed with narrow irregular bars grey and white ; the feet green : in 
summer the throat and breast are spotted with dusky tears, which disappear after the breeding season. This is 
the largest species of Gambet in Europe. [It breeds on the margins of lakes, including those of Britain, and 
during the season of propagation is very clamorous, rising on the wing and spreading an alarm at the approach of 
danger to all other birds within hearing : in winter it resorts to the sea-shore in small flocks, apparently the 
amount of broods. The Greenshank is a characteristic example of a particular group, the members of w'hich are 
comparatively large, acquire more or less of a dusky colour on the under-parts towards the breeding season, and 
agree in their general habits, mostly frequenting fresh-water lakes. An allied species of North America {Tot. semi- 
palmatus) has the toes half-webbed, and has been known to occur in Europe as a straggler. The Dusky Gambet 
(T./^^^cMs) is another European species, more delicately formed, with particularly slender beak and feet, and 
beautifully barred tail and coverts, which becomes entirely suflfused on the under-parts with fuliginous-black in 
the spring, and is rare in Britain. A fourth {T. calidris), the Redshank Gambet, is very abundant in Britain, - 
breeding also not uncommonly in marshes near the sea-shore, and especially about the estuaries of rivers. 
Others acquire no colour on the under-parts in spring, and mostly breed in the marshes, where they trip across 
the broad floating leaves of aquatic plants with grace and agility : such are, particularly, those with longer legs, 
as the delicate Wood Gambet {T. glareola), which is sometimes found in Britain, the T. stagnatalis, Bechst., of 
eastern Europe, and T. chloropygius of North America : one more common in this country, with shorter legs, and 
a conspicuous white rump as it flies, is the Green Gambet {T. ochropus), which conducts into the next minor group. 
The others, at least those of Europe, are still smaller, and familiarly known as Summer Snipes in England. One 1 1' 
very common may be termed the Common Gambet (T. hypoleucos), which in America is represented by a species ■ 
with a breast spotted like that of a Thrush (T. macularia). Another in Europe, still more diminutive (T. Tem-'k [ 
minckii or pusilla), has been generally classed with the Sandpipers, but strictly appertains to the present group i 
both in structure and habits, being never found on the sea-shore, but frequenting inland waters like its true | ^ 
congeners, all of which jerk the tail and nod the head frequently as they run about, and emit a clear whistling ^ 
note. There are many others in foreign parts.] 
The Lobefoot {Lohipes, Cuv.), — 
Which we consider ought to be separated from the Phalaropes, which 
it resembles in the lobation of its toes, is distinguished from them by 
its hill, which is that of a Gambet. Sucii is 
The Red-necked Lobefoot {Tringa hyperborea, Lin.). — K little bird, grey 
above, white below, tinted with rufous on the scapularies, and having a broad 
red gorget round its white throat. Add the Phalaropus frenatus, Vieillot ; 
or Holopodius \Wilsonii] of M. C. Bonaparte, [which is found in America 
generally. Tlie first-named species breeds in the northern isles of Scotland, 
inhabiting marshy grounds, where it cannot be obtained without much diffi- 
culty, though far from being timid in its disposition]. 
The Stilts {Himantopus, Brisson) — 
Have a round beak, slender and pointed, even more so than in the 
Gambets ; the grooves of the nostrils extending only half-way. But 
what particularly distinguishes them, and has given origin to their 
name, is the inordinate length and slenderness of their legs, which 
are reticulated and destitute of hind-toe, and the hones of which are 
so feeble as to render walking painful to them. 
%':■ 
I 
I 
But one species is known in Europe {Charadrius himantopus, Lin. ; [LT. Plinii, Auct.] ; which is white, with a 
black calotte and mantle, and long red legs. It is rather rare, and little is known of its manners. [The latter 
