PLOVICK,-. !i) 



Older Xll. CHAEADRIIFORWKS. Pu.vek-tiui!!;. 



The birds included in this Order prtseut great variety in size, sliaue. [t'lises 

 and coloration, and it is interesting- to notice that these differences are 

 generally traceable to iieculiar methods of feeding-. Though a few 

 species frequent arid plains, they are essentially birds of the fen and of 

 the sea-shore, or haunt the Ijanks of streams and desolate marshes, feeding 

 on -worms, small shell-tish, and erustacea. For the capture of these the 

 beak and legs have become modified in many ways. A considerable 

 number of species exhibit conspicuous changes in the coloration of the 

 plumage, adopting a distinct summer and winter dress ; others undergo 

 but little seasoual change. The richly coloured eggs do not ordinarily 

 exceed four in number, and are deposited in a slight hollow in the 

 ground with little or no preparation in the form of a nest. The young 

 are quite active when hatched and clothed in a thick eoveriug of 

 beautifully patterned down, the colour of which is more or less deter- 

 mined by the surroundings amid which tliev are hatched. 



Cast- I'Z.] 



l''anii!yl. Dhomadi d r. C'i<AH-rLovi:iis. 



On the Hoor uf this Case, on the right-hand side, wc find the sole 

 representative of this very aberrant and remarkable family, which 

 inhabits the coast-land and sandy islands of India, Arabia, and East 

 .•Vfrica. The nesting habits differ entirely from those of every other 

 member of this order, for the Crab-plover {Dromas archolu) (463) 

 breeds in deep burrows excavated in the sand-hills and lays a single 

 large white egg. The young arc covered with greyish down and, like 

 young petrels, remain in the burrows during the day. 



Family II. CnioMUiD.i:. SiiEArn hills. 



The Sheathbills, of which three species are known, form another very [Case 27. t 

 aberrant family, inhabiting- the islands adjacent to the southern extre- 

 mity of South America and in the South Atlantic Ocean. The base 

 of the bill is covered with a saddle-shaped horny sheath, the cheeks are 

 naked, covered with wattles in Chionis alba (464), and the wings are 

 armed with spurs. The habits of the Lesser Sheathbill [Chiuitcirchus 

 vdnor) (465) are described as resembling in some respects tliose of 

 pigeons, Avliile in their gait aiul flight they closely resemble Ptarmigan. 

 The rougii nest of dried plant-stems is made in a hollow among- the 

 rocks or occasionally in a Petrel's burrow, and contains two or three 

 eggs thickly spatted and mottled with [jurplish-rcd. 



K 



