vanelltn^. 647 



The Grey-headed Lapwing. 



Descr. — General colour of the upper parts pale greyish-brown, 

 the head, neck, and breast, pure light grey, passing into black on 

 the lower part of the breast, and terminating abruptly, contrast- 

 ing with the white belly ; primaries, their coverts, and the winglet, 

 black ; the secondaries and their coverts chiefly white, and the 

 tertiaries concolorous with the back : upper tail-coverts white, 

 slightly tinged with brownish ; and tail pure white, having a black 

 subterminal band, broad on its medial feathers, nearly obsolete 

 on the penultimates, and quite so on the outermost. 



Bill black ; irides pale red ; orbital skin, small frontal lobes, and 

 basal portion of the bill, pale yellow ; legs bright yellow. Length 

 15 inches ; extent 32 ; wing 9| ; tail 4^ ; tarsus 3^ ; bill at 

 front 1^. 



This fine Lapwing is not very rare in Bengal, but I have seen 

 it in no other Province. It is stated however by Capt. Irby to be 

 common in Oudh and Kumaon, about swamps and jheels, generally 

 in lots of seven or eight. It is a migratory bird in India coming 

 in the cold season, and departing in April to Central and 

 North-eastern Asia. It is not recorded by Pallas, but it appears 

 to be found in Japan. It is usually seen in moderately large 

 flocks, from eight to a dozen or so not far from water, and when 

 on the wing shews much white. It is generally a silent bird 

 at this season. I have seen it abundant in Purneah, and in 

 Dacca, and it probably will be found in all the countries to the 

 Eastward. 



C. macro-cercus, Heuglin, and C. arabensis, Eversraan, are indi- 

 cated by Bonaparte, but are perhaps identical with one or other 

 of the last three species. 



2nd. Sarciophoreas. 

 With fleshy wattles at the base of the bill ; with four toes. 



Gen. LoBiVANELLUS, Strickland. 



Char. — Bill moderately long and stout, the horny tip not much 

 elevated ; a lappet of nude skin at the base of the bill in front 

 of the eye ; shoulder of the wing furnished with a tubercle which 



