CHARADRIID.E — THE PLOVERS — OXYECHUS. 



147 



Mr. H. Seebohm (Ibis, 1879, p. 153) first met with this species in Siberia, June 5, 

 and secured many specimens as it passed the Koo-rag-i-ka in its migrations. He 

 again met with it on the open tundra, beyond the limit of forest-growth, in lat. 69° 

 30'. The nest was a mere hollow in the ground, lined with broken stalks of reindeer- 

 moss. The eggs, four in number, averaged 1.90 by 1.32. These were taken July 13, 

 and were very much incubated. 



Mr. Seebohm shows that Mr. Swinhoe probably erred in stating that this Plover 

 breeds in Formosa, and that he mistook the eggs of JEgialitis Geoffroyi for those 

 of this species. 



Genus OXYECHUS, Eeichenbach. 



Oxyechus, Reighenb., Av. Syst. 1853, Introd. p. xviii (type, Charadrius vocifcrus, Linn.). 



Char. Bill small, slender, about equal to the middle toe (without nail) ; tarsus nearly twice as 

 long as middle toe ; tail long (about two thirds as long as the wings), reaching half its length 

 beyond the ends of the primaries, graduated, the lateral feathers about .75 shorter than the middle 

 pair ; rump different in color from the back. 



The single North American species of this genus differs conspicuously from the Plovers usually 

 included together under A^Jgialitis, in the broad, lengtliened tail, and, so far as coloration is con- 

 cerned, in the ochraceous rump and the pair of black bands across the breast. It may be reiuarked, 

 however, that coloration alone is of slight importance as a character in this group. 



0. vociferus. 



Two Old World species appear to belong here rather than with the true jEgialitis, namely, 

 Charadrius tricollaris, Yieill., of South Africa, and Cli. nigrifrons, Cuvier, of Australia. The 

 former is much like a miniature Kildeer Plover, having two black pectoral bands, like 0. 

 vociferus (though their relative width is reversed, the posterior one being the broader) ; the pro- 

 portions and detads of form are quite the same, but the rump and u]iper tail-coverts are concolor 

 with the back. The Australian species agrees essentially with the above in size and proportions, 

 but has broader and acuminate rectrices, and the tail is more nearly even, while the plumage is 

 handsomer and more varied than in any other species of the group ; the scapular region being 

 adorned with a patch of rich maroon chestnut, the upper tail-coverts rufous chestnut, etc. 



