CHARA'DRIADJE, a family of Birds, placed by Mr. Vigors in the order or Waders. The genus Charadrius, including the True Plovers, the Dottrel', the Sea-Lark, the Sanderling, the Stone Curlew ((Edit-nemus), the Long-Legged Plover (Ilintantopus), and the Spur-Winged Plover (Charadrius spinosus), was placed by Linnmeus, in his 'Systems Nature, between the genera Triage and Beeurri rostra [Avosrr], in his order Graller.
Cnvier makes the family of Plovers (Les Pinviers, Charadrius, Linn.), comprising those genera which want the hind toe, and have ft moderate bill compressed and convex at the end, consist of two genera, (Edicnentus, and the I'lovers so called (Chnradrius, Linn.), embracing the Golden Plover, Charndrius Mlotinedlus, C. Hintieula, &c. The Plovers are succeeded by the Vanneaux. (Fanelles, Boast, Tringa, Linn.), consisting of Seeatarda, Cuv., and Vantlitta, Cuss; which are followed by ihrmatopus and Canaria' ; after which last, judging from external form, he places the Cariama (M icrodnct yl as, Groff., Dicholopus, Ill.). Nattiest...3 The following is Mr. G. R. Gray's arrangement, lie makes tho Charadriador the first family of the Grallatorcs.
Sub-Family 1. (Edictiemiam.
Genera. (Edienemus, Tenum (Charadrius, Linn.; Oils, Lath.; Brims.).
Barhinus, Ill. Uditmcmtur, Shaw ; Cheradries, Lath.).
Sub-Family 2. Cu rsarinrr.
Genera. Canaria', Lath. (Charadrius, Cm.; Tack/dm/wog, Ill.; Orrophilus, Gould).
Ortygodn, Vieill. (Himipoditu, Sw. ; Ortygis, Steph.).
Ph:riot:1u, Visill. (Charadrists, Gin.; Cursor, ngl.; Hyas, Gloger; A rnmoptila, Sw. ; Chniodromtm, R(ipp.).
Sub-Family 3. Charadriamr.
Genera. Glarcula, Briss. (Hirando, Linn. ; Trachclia, Scop.).
Saanterola. Cuv. (Triads, Gm. ; PI wrialis, ; Fancliva, Bethst..; 'MP.
Van:Was, prise. ( Triage, Lin nreus ; Charadrius, Wagler ; Garin, Klein) Erythrogonys, Gould.
Philomachas, 31celir. (Parra, Gmelin; Ismorius, Grneliu ; 11opro perus, 'Romp.).
Charadrius, Linn. (Plarinlis, ltsy).
Eadromias, Boie (Charadrius, Linn.; Pierisais, Brim.; Morindlus, Gean.).
lliefica2a, Mcchr. (Charadrius, Linn. ; Plurinlis, Briss.; ,Eg Bole).
Pipis, Licht. (Charadrius, Licht.).
A narhynehus, Quoy and Gains. (Scolopas 1 Raffles).
Sub-Family 4. Ha matopimr.
Genus. Hamtatopas, Linn. (0"rralegn, Brim. ; Scotopn.r, Scop.).
Sub-Family 5. Drom d intr.
Genera. Dramas, Payk. (L'rodia, Stanley ; t'urrira, Brim. T) Esacus, Less. (Carranace, Hodge.), Wo now proceed to the consideration of some of tho forms included in this family.
The first family of the order Gm:Ratans, according to Mr. G. IL Gray's arrangement, is the Charadriathr, which are divided by him into the following sub-families and genera:— In illustration of this family wo select principally the species inhabiting the British Islands.
adicnemus crepitans, the Great Plover. It is the Otis (Ed icnrm as, Pennant; Charadrius (Edienemus, Montagu; Oidienemes Fleming. It is also known by the common name of the Norfolk Plover. It is the Ostardeau of 'Beton ; Le Grand 'linger, on Courlis de Terre, of the French ; Gran Pivieri, Curlotte, Chtritil, and Ciurlovl of the Italians; Lerchengrauo Regenpfeifer, Grosser Brachvogel, and Grosse Bragvogel oder Gluth, of the Germans, among whom it is also called Trial, or Grid, according to Gesner, who thinks that it is the ateradrius of Aristotle ; the Glin-braff of the ancieet British. This genus connects the Bustards and Plovers.
Mr. Gould, who concurs in this view, observes that he has often had occasion to remark, that while the normal or typical groups are abundant in species, the aberrant forms, which appear to be created for the purpose of filling up the intervening chasms, are restricted for the enost part to a limited number of species : thus while the Bustards and Plovers comprise a vast multitude of species, the genus (Edirne:sus coot-aim at most but five or six species, and these con fined entirely to the regions of the Old World. (' Birds of Europe.') The following is the character of the genus strong, nearly straight, rather depressed towards the tip; cultnen elevated, lower mandible angulated ; nostrils longitudinal, pierced through and through the horny part of the middle of the bill, and most open anteriorly. Tarsi long ; three toes, all before, united as far as the second joint by a membrane which skirts their edges. Wings moderate ; first quill shorter than the second, which is longest.