n.uvKiis. 53 



Wattled Plover iSdrcidjiJioriis tecttis) (555). In the Black-thighcd 

 (Xipkidiojiteriis cnciiUatus) (542) and Latliani's Wattled La[)\\ing 

 {Lnbh-iUiplliis liihatii!<) '548), both wattles and spurs to the wiiii;s are 

 found ; wliilc others, sucli as the Cayenne Lapwing (Beloiwpteruti rinjen- 

 /icii.sis) (554) and the Egyptian Spur-winged Plover (HojAopteriix 

 xpinoxus) (543), liave spurs only. The latter species is believed by some 

 to be the " Crocodile-Bird " of the earlier writers, and is said to enter the 

 crocodile's month to feed on the ])arasites attached to the gums. The 

 Sociable Plover (Cluetmia f/rc(/aria) (552), which ranges from South- 

 eastern Europe and North-east Africa to Central Asia and India, is 

 interesting to British ornithologists as having once been captured in 

 Lancashire. 



The Avocets and Stilts (HtmantopodiiHe) (557 562), which complete ^Case 28.] 

 the series in this Case, arc singularly interesting types, the former 

 es|)cci;dly so on account of the form of the bill, which is upturned and 

 drawn out into nn extremely fine point. The conuuon .Vvoret 

 (Jiecinr/ros/ra uvocctla) (561) at one time bred in considerable numbers 

 in the fen-country in the cast of England, but now only occurs as a 

 visltoi- on migration. The Banded Avoeet {Cladorhijiiclius leucocephal ks) 

 (560) of Australia, a remarkably handsome bird, represents an inter- 

 mediate form \\ith the bill but slightly curved upwards and the feet 

 webbed as in the Stilts. These latter have renn'rkably long legs 

 and a straight slender bill and obtain their food i)y wading. The 

 Black-wiugcd Stilt {Hiiiiaiilopifs liinmntopus) (557) has visited Britain 

 on many occasions, and is widely distributed over Europe, Africa, 

 and Asia. 



Family \'. Cunsoiuiu.i;. Coukseus. 



T^Iiis small group of Plover-like birds inhabits Africa and ranges [Ca^e 29.] 

 through Southern Asia to India and Ceylon. One species, the Cream- 

 coloured Courser {Ciirsorius (j(iUicus) (564l, breeds in the Canary 

 Islands and occasionally wanders to England. It frequents dry sandy 

 ]ilaius and deserts, running with extraordinary speed and rarely taking 

 wing, though at times its Hight is protracted. Insects such as grass- 

 hoppers form its principal food, and its eggs, two in number, aredeposited 

 on the bare ground, which they closely resemble in colour. An allied 

 genus is represented by the Two-banded Courser (Rhinoptilus bichic(us) 

 (565). One of the most interesting species is the Black-headed Plover 

 (Pluvidnus (eciiipthis) (563), also known as the " Crocodile-Bird." 

 Like the Egyptian Spur-winged Plover it is said to enter the mouths of 

 crocodiles in search of leeches and other parasites which adhere to 

 the great reptile's gums. 



