Page:Natural History, Birds.djvu/280

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The most remarkable characteristic of this Family is the extreme length and slenderness of the beak, which, far from possessing the strength and firmness of the Herons, is extremely weak and flexible. Of course this structure is more conspicuous in what are known as the typical genera, than in those which lead off from them into connexion with neighbouring Families. In the former the tip of this long beak is covered with a soft skin, extremely sensitive; and the organ is employed as a probe to feel the soft mud or earth, into which it is thrust, and to capture there minute insects and animalcules, which could not be discovered by any other sense. They have the hind toe jointed on the tarsus above the level of the fore toes, and so short as to be unable to touch the ground. In some it is absent.

The feet and necks of these birds are, generally, of moderate length; the wings long and pointed; and hence the flight is swift and sustained: the tail is short and even; the front toes frequently united by a membrane more or less considerable. Their plumage is of chaste and subdued tints, frequently presenting a mottled assemblage of black, white, and rufous hues, often disposed in elegant contrast; at other times a nearly uniform greyish olive is the prevalent hue. Their flesh is held in high esteem.

The Snipes are widely distributed; a considerable number of the species are found in Britain,