166 



208. Vanellus bilobus. Charadrius bilobus, Gmel. 1. 691. he Plu- 



vierde la cote de Malabar, Buff., PI. Enl. 880. 

 The bird has a black bill, yellowish at the base ; and not a yellow 

 bill, as described in the * Index Ornithologicus.' There are one 

 or two other minor discrepancies ; but no doubt it is the species 

 figured by Buffon. Although it wants the hind toe, and is 

 therefore, agreeably to generic characters, a Charadrius, its 

 habits, figure, food, and almost its cry, are those of the prece- 

 ding species. Col. Sykes has therefore classed it as a Vanellus. 

 Irides yellowish. Length, inclusive of tail, 11 J to 12 inches: 

 tail 3| inches. Gregarious. Found only on the open stony 

 and grass plains. Like the Van. Goensis, a restless noisy bird 

 at night, crying Deewit, Deewit. Sexes alike. 



Genus Charadrius, Auct. Plover. 



209. Charadrius pluvialis, Linn., 1.254*. 7. Le Pluvier dore, Buff., 



Ois. 8. 81. PI. Enl. 904. Golden Plover. 

 Identical with Javanese specimens. Smaller than one North 

 American specimen and two English specimens in the British 

 Museum; but absolutely identical with other British specimens. 

 A rare bird in Dukhun, and appearing only in the cold weather. 

 Irides almost black. Length, inclusive of tail, 10 inches : tail 

 2w inches. Gregarious. In the stomach were found beetles, 

 land insects, and coarse sand. 



210. Charadrius Philippensis, Lath., Ind. Orn. 2.745. 11. Petit 



Pluvier a collier de Lucon, Sonn., Voy. Ind. 84. pi. 46. 

 This little bird has the habits of Totanus ; frequents the shores 

 of fresh water only j and in firing into a flock of Sandpipers it 

 is frequently killed in company with them. Irides fuscous 

 crimson. Length, inclusive of tail, 7 J inches ; tail 2,V inches. 

 Gregarious. Sexes alike. Sonnerat, in his description, omits 

 to mention that the margins of the eyelids are bright yellow ; 

 instead of which he calls the irides yellow. 



Genus Himantopus, Ray. Longshanks. 



211. Himantopus melanopterus , Horsf., Linn. Trans. 13. 194. 



Charadrius Himantopus, Linn., 1 . 255. L'Echasse, Buff v Ois. 

 8.114. PI. Enl. 878. 

 There are slight discrepancies in the plumage between the birds 

 of Java, India, and Europe; and in case of these being perma- 

 nent, and not the result of nonage, specific differences might 

 be established. Irides narrow, lake or crimson colour. Length, 

 inclusive of tail, 16 inches ; tail 3| inches; to the end of the 

 toes 22£ inches. Gregarious. Vegetable matters, larvce of 

 water insects, and minute univalve shells found in the stomach. 

 These birds are strangely polluted with visceral worms of the 

 tape and capillary kinds. 



Genus (Edicnemus, Cuv. Thick-knee. 



212. (Edicnemus crepitans, Temm., Man. 322. Otis CEdicnemus, 



Lath., Ind. Orn. 2.661. 11. Charadrius CEdicnemus, Linn., 



