198 
Genus I.— CHARADRIUS, Linn. PLOVER. 
Bill short, or as long as the head, straight, rather stout, somewhat com- 
pressed, pointed ; upper mandible with the dorsal line straight, and slightly 
declinatefor at least half its length, then bulging a little, and arched to the 
tip, which is rather acute, the sides flat and sloping at the base, convex 
towards the end, where the edges are sharp and inclinate ; nasal groove 
extended to half length, and bare ; lower mandible, with the angle rather 
long and narrow, the sides at the base erect and nearly flat, the dorsal line 
ascending and slightly convex, the edges sharp and involute towards the tip, 
which is narrow and l’ather pointed. Nostrils sub-basal, linear, open, and 
pervious. Eyes rather large. Head of moderate size, roundish, the fore- 
head much rounded ; neck rather short ; body ovate, rather full. Feet rather 
long, slender ; tibia bare for a considerable space ; tarsus rather compressed, 
covered all round with reticulated hexagonal scales ; toes of moderate length, 
slender, scutellate, second shorter than fourth, first wanting or rudimentary; 
anterior toes broadly marginate, webbed at the base. Claws small, com- 
pressed, slightly arched, rather acute. Plumage soft, blended, the feathers 
broad and rounded. Wings long and pointed, the primaries tapering, the 
first longest ; inner secondaries tapering and elongated. Tail rather short, 
or of moderate length, rounded, of twelve rounded feathers. Tongue taper- 
ing, grooved above ; oesophagus of moderate width ; proventriculus oblong ; 
stomach roundish, very muscular, its lateral and inferior muscles prominent, 
epithelium dense, longitudinally rugous ; intestine rather long and of mode 
rate width ; coeca rather long. 
