grallj:. 
Family  IV.  Chahadeid^. 
Thf 
fourth  Subfamily, 
CHARADRINiE,  or  Plovers, 
the  Bill  in 
sidgg  slender,  the  culmen  depressed  at  the  base  but  vaulted  at  the  tip, 
^^^udible  • L grooved ; the  Nostrils  basal,  linear,  and  placed  in  the  groove  of  the  upper 
and  long  and  pointed  : the  Tail  moderate,  broad,  and  generally  even ; the  Tarsi  usually 
thp  ■ ^ blonder : the  Toes  sometimes  three  and  sometimes  four  in  number  : the  outer  toe  longer 
> and  more  or  less  united  at  the  base : the  Claws  small,  compressed,  and  curved. 
Vanellus  Linn.* 
shorter  th 
®'Pical  0 head,  slender,  and  straight,  with  the  basal  portion  rather  depressed,  and  the 
^ part  — ^ vviui  Lue  uasai  portion  ratner  aepressed,  ana  tne 
tivQ  thirds  and  curved,  the  sides  compressed,  and  the  sides  of  each  mandible  grooved 
'^PP^r  Qiandibl  ^ length  ; the  gonys  short  and  straight ; the  nostrils  lateral,  in  the  groove  of  the 
^^ich  very  long  and  pointed ; with  tlie  first  quill  shorter  than  the  second  and  third, 
^ '^‘e  emmi  _ . 
*'ather 
^earl 
p ..  - . j,  - _ _ . ^ 
slend  longest.  Tail  moderate,  broad,  and  even.  Tarsi  longer  than  the  middle  toe, 
1 and  covered  in  front  with  transverse  scales ; the  tibia  sometimes  covered  with  feathers 
to  th  lu  irom  wiin  transverse  scales;  tne  tiDia  sometimes  covered  with  teatiiers 
at  th  > fl^®  anterior  ones  rather  long,  the  outer  toe  longer  than  the  inner,  and 
®^^§litly  c ^^*1  foo  short,  not  reaching  to  the  ground ; the  claws  short,  compressed,  and 
The  spe^’ 
Sea  or  genus  are  found  in  Europe,  America,  and  Northern  Africa.  They  inhabit  in  pairs  the 
where  the^  open,  or  cultivated  districts ; but,  on  the  approach  of  winter,  usually  frequent  the  downs  and 
a series  of  ^ f flocks.  Their  flight  is  rapid,  and  at  times  performed  with  numerous  singular  evolutions, 
three  pro!  notes,  and  while  on  the  ground  they  run  with  great  speed.  Worms  form  their  chief 
of  ^‘‘’f'es,  fjy  dnring  twilight,  by  turning  the  worm  casts  on  one  side,  and,  after  walking  round  them  two  or 
draw  them  f motion  to  the  ground,  the  worms  come  out,  and  the  watchful  birds,  seizing  hold 
placed  i^^  ' slugs  and  insects  in  their  various  stages.  The  nest  is  formed  of  dry 
disto  V car  f^ii^  ®'^obt  hollow  in  the  ground.  The  eggs  are  four  in  number.  The  young  are  covered  with 
^ ®d>  ''arioug  st  ^ tended  by  the  parent  until  they  are  capable  of  protecting  themselves.  Should  they  be 
^ agems  are  resorted  to  to  attract  attention  from  the  nest  or  young. 
established  by  Linnaeus  in  1735.  Parra  of  Lace'pede  (between  1800  and  1801)  is  coequal. 
