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PLECTROPHANES. 
is shorter than that of the Bantings ; the palatal 
knob is not apparent. The claws are all straighter, 
and that of the hallux is more than usually 
lengthened, the wings are long and pointed, 
and fitted for their long migrations. They breed 
on the ground, and are mostly natives of cold or 
arctic latitudes during summer, migrating during 
winter, at which time we receive their visits. 
The genus may be thus characterized : 
Plectrophanes, Meyer. — Generic characters. 
— Bill short, culmen bending, palatal knob 
scarcely apparent in profile ; wings long, 
first quill longest, second and third graduat- 
ing, the fourth suddenly shortening ; tarsi 
and feet rather short, claws slender, not 
much bent, that of the hallux nearly equal 
to the toe in length. 
Types . — PL 1. nivalis, 2. Lapponica, 3. picta. 
Note. — 1. 2. Europe, 3. America. 
