Genus — H ETEROSCELUS. 
Hbteroscelus Baird, Rep. ExpL Surv. Pac. 
Ocean, Vol. IX., pt. ii., Zool., p. 734, 
1858 Type 
Heteractitis Stejneger, Auk, Vol. I., p. 236, 
1884 . . . , . . . . . . . . Type 
H. hrevipes=incaniis. 
H. incanus. 
Medium Totanine Waders with short, somewhat stout hills, long wings, 
medium tails, short stout legs, and strong feet. 
This genus is easily recognisable by the stout bill in conjunction with 
the nature of the metatarsal covering from which it gains its name. 
The culmen is stout and short, being less than one-fourth the length of 
the wing and almost exactly half the length of the tail. The nasal groove 
varies from one-half to two-thirds the length of the culmen. Wings long 
and pointed, the first primary longest. Tail rather less than half the length 
of the wing. Metatarsus short, less than the culmen, but longer than the 
middle toe and claw, the exposed tibia being about half the length of 
the metatarsus. There is a distinct web between the outer and middle toes 
towards the base, but only an indistinct webbing between the middle and 
inner toes. The hind toe and claw are proportionately long. The metatarsus 
is covered with transverse scutellse in front and the sides are coarsely 
reticulate ; the back is clothed with little larger reticulation m some, in 
hexagonal scales approaching transverse scutes in others, and in apparently 
regular scutellse in others. 
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