24 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891. 



Plover. The eggs are of the typical plover-shape, measuring 1*45 

 inches in length by about 1*05 in breadth. The ground-colour varies 

 from yellowish -buff to greenish-stone ; the markings, consisting of 

 spots, streaks, and blotches, are pale olive-brown and dingy purple. 



Necnmch, April and May. H. E. Barnes. 



Nassick, do. J. Davidson, C.S. 



Panch Mahals, April. H. Littledale, B.A. 



853.— THE GREAT STONE PLOVER. 



Esacus recurvirostris, Cuv. 



The Great Stone Plover is very common in Sind along the Indus, 

 wherever there are sandy and stony islands ; it is not uncommon in 

 similar places on the rivers of Guzerat and Rajpootana, but appears 

 to be more rare in most other parts of Western India. 



Mr. Littledale found them breeding on the Mahi, Colonel Butler 

 met with it on the river between Ahmedabad and Deesa, Mr. David- 

 son procured it in Western Khandeish, and I shot a single specimen 

 on an island in the river near Neemuch. 



They are chiefly found on rocky and sandy islands in the bods of 

 the large rivers, bat occur occasionally on the sea coast. 



They breed from early in March to about the middle of April ; 

 the eggs, two in number, are placed in a hollow on the ground, 

 generally on an island that is not much frequented, especially if it 

 is interspersed with rocks ; of course it is only on the larger rivers 

 that such islands are found. 



They are broad oval in shape, somewhat pointed at one end, but 

 not so much as those of the Red- wattled Lapwing. 



Usually the ground-colour is a stony-drab, but cream and pale 

 olive-brown varieties are not uncommon ; they are streaked and 

 blotched with olive-, umber-, and blackish-brown, and have faint 

 underlying spots and clouds of faint inky-purple. 



They vary a good deal in size, but the average is about 2*15 inches 

 in length by 1*6 in breadth. 



They seem to lay their eggs on the same spot year after year. 

 Kotri, Indus , March. II. E. Barnes. 



Sehora, Make, April. H. Littledale, B.A. 



