HCEMATOPODID^. 655 



eggs of a stone-yellow colour, blotched and spotted with dark 

 brown and grey, in March and April, 



It is a favorite quarry for the Shikra with natives, for which its 

 habits of lying close well adapt it, and it generally falls an easy 

 prey. It is excellent eating, being very hii.',h flavored, and it 

 has received the name of Bastard Florikin among some sports- 

 men in the South of India. It feeds almost entirely on insects, 

 is quite nocturnal in its habits, and its wild, long cry may 

 frequently be heaid at night close to many stations, where 

 you may hunt long, without finding it in the day time. The 

 Stone-plover is found throughout a great part of Europe, Asia, 

 and Northern Africa. 



Two or three affined species from Africa are recorded, and one 

 or two from America ; one from Australia with somewhat longer 

 legs, C. (grallarius, Latham), is separated as Burhinus^ Illiger. 

 It appears intermediate between CEdicnemus and Esacus. 



Fam. H^MATOPODiD^, Bonap., Sea-plovers. 



Feet with three toes, and with a small hind toe raised above the 

 others ; plumage variegated ; bill varied, stout ; legs long or 

 moderate. Mostly Sea-shore birds. 



The birds that I include in this family are of three very different 

 types, which might each form a distinct family, but a certain 

 similitude in coloration and habits is apparent. The Turnstones, 

 Oyster-catchers, and Crab-plovers are the three forms, to each of 

 which I shall give the rank of a sub-family. Bonaparte places 

 the Turnstones and Crab-plovers (Dromas) together in one 

 family, and the Oyster-catchers in close proximity to them, in 

 another ; Gray in like manner, groups the first two sub-families 

 together but includes them among the Plovers. All frequent 

 the Sea-shore chiefly, the Turnstones alone occasionally wandering 

 inland; they run quickly on the sand, and pick up various 

 Crustacea, shell- fish, &c. 



Sub-fam. STEEPSiLiNiE, Bonap. 

 Cinclin(E, Gray. 



Bill short, conical, with the culmen flattene«i, the tip compressed 

 and truncated, upper mandible slightly turned upwards ; nostrils 



