CHAP. 64. (47.)—THE HÆMATOPOUS.
There are the same characteristics in the hæmatopous[1] also,
a bird of much smaller size, although standing as high on the
legs. It is a native of Egypt, and has three toes on each foot;
flies[2] forming its principal food. If brought to Italy, it survives for a few days only.
1. Literally, "the blood-red foot." Cuvier says that this description may
apply to the sea-pie or oyster-eater, the Hæmatopus ostralegus of Linnæus,
or else the long-legged plover, the Charadrius himantopus of Linnæus,
but most probably the latter, more especially if the reading here is "himantopus," as some editions have it.
2. "Muscæ," "flies," is a mistake of the copyists, Cuvier thinks, for
"musculi," "mussels."