THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
Working systematically at the Charadriine birds the peculiar metatarsal 
covering of this species soon emphasised itself, and carefully examining 
the bill, the distinct nature of the nostrils at once revealed the relationship 
of the species. 
Seebohm’s remarks on this group are worthy of quotation in this respect 
{Geog. Distr. Charad., p. 231, 1887) : “ The Coursers form a group of birds 
which are intermediate between the Pratincoles and the Lapwings, and are 
probably almost as closely allied to the Bustards and Stone Curlews on the 
one hand, and to the Plovers on the other. The Lapwings and Plovers, like 
the Sandpipers, Snipes, and most other birds belonging to the family, have 
the nasal orifice placed in a groove or ditch which extends for some distance 
beyond it ; but in Otis, Cursorius and Pratincola there is no nasal groove, the 
nasal orifice being placed in a depression not more elongated than itself. 
From Otis, Cursorius may be distinguished by its scutellated tarsus, and from 
Pratincola by its having neither a forked tail nor a hind toe.'*'’ 
Seebohm did not, however, notice the affinity of the present species 
with Cursorius, though he wrote {l.c., p. 110) : “ It is difficult to say which 
it most resembles, Charadrius hiaticula, Charadrius morinellus, or Cursorius 
hicinctus, but its resemblance to the latter is probably an example of analogy 
rather than of affinity.” The bill-characters, combined with those of the legs, 
absolutely prove its relationship is with the Coursers, though the lengthened 
bill and somewhat short legs make it look unlike. 
The middle claw shows no pectination on its inner margin, but neither 
does that of Stiltia, an admitted genus of this family, and the pectination 
is obsolete or missing in Rhinoptilus, another typical genus. 
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