Synopsis of the Birds 
m2 
legs ; at ease only on sinking soil, for which their feet 
are admirably calculated : wade deeply in the mud and water, 
swimming occasionally when losing their depth. 
Spread all over the globe. Formed of but two well ascer- 
tained species, one of which is reckoned as cosmopolite, 
though we cannot trace it in America, Ought not to separate 
Tringa from Totanus : somewhat anomalous in their most 
natural family : forms, in our system, a small solitary collate- 
ral branch, to which might be joined the genus Recurvi- 
rostra. 
258. Himantopus nigricollis, Vieill. White, neck above, 
scapulars and wings black.* 
Long-legged Avocet , Recurvirostra himantopus, Wils. vii. 
p. 48 .pi. 55. Jig. I. 
Inhabits North and South America : not rare during sum- 
mer in the northern and middle states. 
53. TOTANUS. 
Tringa, Scolopax, L. Gm. Lath. Wils. Tringa , Briss. 
Chevaliers, Buffon. Actitis, III. Totanus , Bechst . Cuv. Temm. 
Vieill. Banz. 
Bill moderate, slender, sub-cylindrical, straight, or a little 
recurved, much compressed its whole length, flexible at base, 
narrow, hard, smooth, acute, and a little curved at the point ; 
both mandibles furrowed each side to the middle ; lower 
shorter, somew hat recurved at tip : nostrils in the furrows, 
basal, lateral, linear, pervious : tongue moderate, filiform, 
acute. Feet 4-toed; tarsus long, slender; toes slender, 
smooth beneath; outer connected at base by a membrane; 
hind toe short, slender, much elevated, touching the ground 
* Himantopus melanopterus , Meyer . {alhi collis, Vieill.) White, scapulars 
and wings black. 
