VII.  GEALL^. 
Family  III.  Scolopacid.®. 
The 
Subfamily, 
RECURVmOSTRINJE,  or  Avocets, 
havg  4-1, 
® “ill  lengthened  and  slender,  with  the  sides  grooved  to  the  middle,  and  compressed  towards  the 
(,1  1®  acute ; the  Nostrils  linear  and  membranous  : the  Wings  long  and  pointed : the  Tail  rather 
^‘^^’•^ded : the  Tarsi  long,  slender,  and  covered  in  front  with  reticulated  scales  : the  Tibia  long, 
enuded  of  feathers  for  some  distance  above  the  knee : the  Toes  moderate,  sometimes  free  and 
soiUetiuj 
p entirely  united  by  a web  to  the  ends  of  the  toes ; the  hind  toe  extremely  short,  or  wanting : the 
short.  ^ 
Recurvirostra  Linn* 
^Iddl  slender,  with  the  culmen  slightly  depressed  at  the  base,  the  sides  grooved  to  the 
’ compressed  to  the  tip,  which  is  gradually  pointed  ; the  nostrils  lateral,  and  placed  in  the 
’ ^^ih  the  opening  linear  and  membranous.  Wings  long  and  pointed,  with  the  first  quill  the 
'^gest, 
lo: 
CQ-y  "Lail  short  and  rounded.  Tarsi  much  longer  than  the  middle  toe,  rather  compressed,  and 
loj.  front  with  reticulated  scales.  Toes  united  together  by  an  indented  web;  the  outer  toe  rather 
than 
the  inner  ; the  hind  toe  extremely  short ; the  Claws  short,  compressed,  and  acute. 
The ! 
’■n  ers^  frequent  the  swampy  places  on  the  borders  of 
,.1  marshes,  where  they  are  most  usually  observed  in  pools  of  shallow  water,  fluttering  their  wings,  and 
the'  u ““'^=3 
^^^frhsnt  legs,  which  gives  them  an  appearance  as  if  they  would  tumble  over  ; at  the  same  time  they  are 
®Pfiu  (}q^  ^ ^'ttering  a sharp  uote  of  click  often  repeated.  Sometimes  these  bu’ds  are  noticed  in  small  parties  on  the 
*"^*1  if  ala-*  ^^®  fri^iy  covered  with  grasses  and  other  kinds  of  vegetation,  moving  very  quickly  over  the  ground, 
frequently  fly  oflP  in  a straight  line,  just  above  the  surface  of  the  ground.  They  rarely,  if  ever,  swim, 
Rest  ■-  or  when  they  have  accidentally  proceeded  out  of  their  depth  while  examining  the  shallow  water. 
" . - - . of  several  inches ; and  is  placed 
are  usually  four  in  number. 
1.  ^ 
4.  R.  americana  Gmel.  Lath.  Syn.  v.  pi.  92-,  Whs-  Amer.  Orn. 
pi.  (is.  f.  2.,  Leach,  Zool.  Misc.  pi.  101.,  Audub.  B.  of  Amer.  pi. 
318. 
5.  R.  occidentalis  Vigors,  Zool.  Journ.  iv.  p.  357-,  Zool.  Beechey’s 
Voy.  pi.  12. 
is  pv  •'1  *• 
'’’hoiig  formed  of  dry  grasses,  sea-weeds,  and  small  twigs,  to  the  thickness  o 
tufts  of  grass,  in  the  neighbourhood  of  pools  of  shallow  water.  The  eggs  an 
li 
a * T • 
^hiii  Ef,**  Anim.  p.  49b.  — Recurvirostra  leucoce- 
Ho^'  *■  ‘‘ 
kolla„j.  1'®unn.  Man.  d’Ornith.  ii.  p.  5.92.  — Recurvirostra 
® Gould,  B.  of  Austr.  pi. 
Li! 
’*>18  established  this  genus  in  1744.  Trochilus  of  Ma-hring  (1752)  and  Avocetta  of  Brisson  (I76O)  are  synonymous. 
