TBINGID^. 
177 
briefly glanced over. The true curlews {Numenius) 
have the same long, and generally curved, bill which 
distinguishes tlie ibis, but the cheeks and the throat are 
covered with feathers ; the former are chiefly restricted 
to warm climates ; the latter occur more frequently 
in colder regions. It is worth remarking, that the three 
species known in Europe are not found in North 
America, but arc replaced in that continent by three 
others, equal strangers to the European shores. In the 
avosets (Jiecurvirostra), the curvature of the biU is 
exactly reversed, die point turning upwards instead of 
downwards, giving a most unusual appearance to this 
organ, and which is not found in any other of the 
order : one species belongs to Europe, another to Asia, 
a third to America, and a fourth to New Holland. 
This type seems to be the most aberrant of the Trin- 
gidee : its toes are completely webbed, and it probably 
represents Phcsnicopterus in its own circle. In Totanus, 
which comprises many of the European sandpipers, 
the species are numerous, and many examples occur in 
Britain, — as the green sandpiper, the spotted snipe, the 
redshank, and the common sandpiper. This vernacular 
name is probably derived from the whistling or piping 
notes which are uttered by these birds as they run on the 
sands. They are dispersed all over the world, and are 
perpetually wandering from one locality to another : the 
toes are generally free ; but sometimes, in species 
which lead oft' to other genera, there is a small mem- 
brane. The snipes {Scolopax}, and the woodcocks 
(^Rusticola), are too well knowm to require a popular 
notice of their habits or structure : the true woodcocks 
are found both in Europe, America, and Asia ; and seem 
to be further represented in the hot latitudes of the Old 
M^'orld by the elegantly marked genus llynclicea. We 
pass over several slighter variations seen in the indi- 
viduals of this family, and scarcely suflScient to constitute 
subgenera. The Phalaropes, or lobefoots, generally 
placed near the above genera, may here be mentioned, 
as being the only group furnished with lobes to their 
VOL. II. N 
