168 M. Sundevall on the Birds of Calcutta. 



river in February and March ; I have not noted its occurrence 

 later. They ran upon the shores, commonly several together, but 

 were not heard to cry. In the stomach they had much sand, 

 with insects, larvae, &c. The Hindoos called them Ghorta gotta. 

 No difference was noticed between Swedish specimens and one 

 brought from Calcutta. ( ? Beak to front 13 mill. ; wing 113 ; 

 tail 60 ; tarsus 22 ; middle toe 16, with the claw 19.) 



90. Charadrius cirripedesmos, Wagl. Syst. no. 18 (?). 



Griseus, subtus fronteque albus, pedibus elongatis rostroque nigris, 

 remigiblis omnibus fuscis, scapis plerisque albis ; rectricibus fuscis, 

 margine apicis albis, extima alba macula ante apicem fusca. 



Adultus ( c? initio Mail) fascia pectoris latissima ferruginea (ni- 

 gredine nulla). Frons late nigra, utrinque macula magna alba : 

 albedo enim ordinaria frontis in medio divisa. Vitta ordinaria sub 

 oculis ad aures, nigra. Vertex anterior cum superciliis palHde ru- 

 fescens ; nucha cum torque, in pectus descendente, ferruginea. Plumse 

 dorsi qusedam margine sordidepallidiore. Long. 190 millim., rostrum 

 e fronte 20, ala 125, cauda 54, tarsus 34, digitus medius 19, cum 

 ungue 22. {^ ^f^ similes ; sed individua colore rufescente et ma- 

 culis frontis albis pauUo inter se differunt ; quibusdam frons postice 

 non nigra.) Pnllus ( $ initio Maii) superne magis cinerascens, uni- 

 color : caret coloribus nigris rufisque. Frons cum superciliis latis- 

 simis alba, vitta sub oculis, et fascia nebulosa, indeterminata pectoris, 

 pallide fuscescentes. Pedes fusco-nigri. Longit. alse 120 millim., 

 Cauda 48, tarsus 32, digitus medius 19, cum ungue 22. Est avis e 

 sectiorie Ch. hiaticul<2 affinis Ch. cantiano, sed pedibus longioribus. 

 Ala mutica, tectricibus colore dorsi. Cauda paullulum superat alas. 

 Remiges primse fere pure nigrse ; 6 — 8 extus in medio albse : scapus 

 primus totus albus, reliqui basi longius, apice brevius fusci. 



On the river banks south of Calcutta this bird occurred in the 

 beginning of May in large flocks, which however were now ter- 

 minated, so that individuals migrated in flights. They were very 

 common further down, eight or ten miles from the town, on the 

 broad swampy shores left half-dry at ebb tide. Among several 

 specimens shot in these flocks no two were exactly alike, the 

 brown and black on the head and breast being somewhat variable. 

 The young bird described above was shot some miles nearer the 

 town. It was quite alone upon the shore, and none like it was 

 got among the flocks, though I can safely assert its specific 

 identity. Its plumage was perfectly formed, and it could hardly 

 have been hatched the same year. The note resembled that of 

 our small plovers, and was heard on two occasions when they 

 flew up. In the stomach they had small crabs and insects. 



Obs. On the river banks south from Calcutta, near Culpee for 

 instance, I saw on my homeward voyage a great number of 

 waders, most of which seemed to be plovers. Among others I 



