120 



Mr. H. Seebohm 07i the Genus Cursorius. 



(Pluvianus) , probably in consequence of its frequenting the 

 muddy banks of rivers, like the Ringed Plovers; but there 

 seems to be no valid reason why it should not remain in the 

 genus in which Wagler placed it. It agrees with C. sene- 

 galensis in having a shorter tarsus than usual, and with 

 C. bitorquatus in having white bands across some of the pri- 

 maries. It also agrees with the latter species in not having 

 the claw of the middle toe pectinated; but examples of 

 C. senegalensis also occasionally show no trace of this 

 peculiarity *. 



In order to show the mutual relationship between the 

 species of this genus and also some of the more prominent 

 differences in the adults, I have constructed a diagram which 

 serves as a key to the species, more simple and concise, 

 though conveying more information, than those in ordinary 

 use : — 



fsomalensis. 

 t 

 Hmd head slate-grey. . •{ gallicus 



r 1 



L 



Black on belly 



rufus 



-{ seiieynlensis . . . 

 I 

 •- coromandelicus 



' Under wing-coverts black. 



chalcopterus . 



'cinctus 



- with pale margins ^ 



<J}icinctus 



' Upper tail-coverts white. 



Inner primaries chestnut- 

 buflP. 



'bitorquatus 



White patches near end J 



of primaries X^fftjpfius. 



* A recent reviewer, in ' Nature,' of Professor Newton's excellent article on 

 Ornithology in the * Encyclopaedia Britannica,' finds fault with the leai'ned 

 writer on account of his unfavourable criticism of Sundevall's ' Tentamen.' 

 If the Swedish ornithologist's treatment of the group of birds commonly 

 called Limicolse be a fair sample of the whole work, one can only come to 

 the conclusion either that the anonymous reviewer was unacquainted with 



