of the United States . 
. 
42 . CHARADRIUS. 
Charadrius , Tringa , JC. Gm. Lath. 111. Cuv . Pluvialis , 
Vanellus, Briss . Charadrius , V anellus , Temm . Vieill. Ranz .« 
Bill shorter than the head, rather slender, straight, cylin- 
drical, depressed at base, obtuse, and somewhat turgid at tip; 
upper mandible longitudinally furrowed on two-thirds of its 
length ; lower shorter : nostrils lateral, concave, linear, half 
covered by a prominent membrane : tongue lanceolate, entire, 
somewhat cylindrical at tip. Head and eyes large : front 
prominent. F ket 3, or 4-toed, with the hind toe exceedingly 
small, and elevated from the ground : naked part of the tibia 
moderate : tarsus clypeate-scutellate ; toes scutellate, mar- 
gined by a narrow membrane ; outer toes connected at base 
by a small membrane : nails compressed, curved, acute. 
Wings elongated, subacute, tuberculated ; first primary long- 
est Tail more or less rounded, of twelve feathers. 
Female similar to the male in most species. Young dif- 
fer somewhat from the adult. Moult generally twice in the 
year, changing somewhat in color. Some foreign species dis- 
tinguished by spurred wings, and fleshy appendages on the 
head or bill. 
Gregarious : keep in meadows, or on the sea shore. Stir- 
ring the soil with their feet, to put in motion worms and 
aquatic insects, their exclusive food. Lay in the sand about 
four large eggs. 
Inhabit throughout the world ; traversing temperate coun- 
tries in the spring and autumn. 
SUBGENUS I. CHARADRIUS. 
Charadrius , L. Gm. Lath. Ill . Cuv . Temm. Vieill. Ranz. 
Pluvialis , Briss. 
Feet three toed ; no rudiment of hind toe. 
f All the toes connected at base by a membrane „ 
