44 
PLUVIALINJE. 
FAMILY XXXIY. PLUYIALINiE. PLXJVIA- 
LINE BILLS, OB PLOVEBS. 
The species of which this family is composed have a 
manifest mutual resemblance, and are directly connected 
with the Otinse on the one hand, and the Tringinae on 
the other. They are generally of small size, many of 
them very diminutive ; and have a moderately full, or 
somewhat slender body, of an ovate, more or less com- 
pressed form, rather short or moderate neck, and oblong 
or roundish head, which is always elevated and rounded 
in front, like that of the Pigeons. Bill generally about 
the length of the head, but varying greatly, straight or 
very slightly recurvate, slender, tapering, compressed, 
blunt; upper mandible with its outline straight and slight- 
ly decimate for half its length, then convex or bulging ; 
toward the end, the nasal groove extending about two- 
thirds of its length ; lower mandible with the angle mo- 
derately long and narrow, the dorsal line ascending and i 
a little convex. Both mandibles internally moderately 
concave. Mouth extremely narrow ; tongue short or of 
moderate length, fleshy, narrow, emarginate and papillate i 
at the base, flattish above, pointed ; oesophagus narrow, , 
without dilatation ; proventriculus oblong ; gizzard large, 
elliptical, compressed, its muscles very large and distinct, 
the epithelium dense, with prominent rugae ; intestine of 
moderate length and width ; coeca rather long, subcylin- 
drical. Trachea uniform, a little depressed, with a single 
pair of inferior laryngeal muscles. Eyes generally large, 
eyelids densely feathered. Nostrils subbasal, lateral, 
linear. Aperture of ear roundish and moderate. Legs 
long and slender ; tibia bare below ; tarsus long, or mo- 
derate, a little compressed, reticulated all round, or scu- 
tellate in front ; toes small, rather short, the hind toe 
wanting or very small, the anterior toes spreading, seu- 
tellate, more or less webbed at the base ; claws small, 
