Mr. E,. Swiiihoe on Formosan Ornithology/. 405 



somewhat longer than the rest. Bill along culmen 1 in., to gape 

 1 j^, black, purplish at the swollen base of upper mandible, and 

 greenish ochre at base of lower. The basal half of the culmen 

 is fleshy, and shrinks when dry, which makes the fore part of the 

 bill much higher ; but in fresh examples the culminar line in all 

 CharadriidcE is much more nearly straight than would appear from 

 ordinary drawings. Iris deep umber. Ear as large as the eye, 

 round, operculum well exposed. The whole of the upper pai-ts 

 of the bird, and the sides of its breast more especially, are washed 

 with a warm buff tint. Exposed tibia, to joint, ^^ in ; tarsus 1^. 

 Legs greenish grey, yellower on the tarsi, and browner on the 

 toes ; claws deep brown. 



121. ^GIALITES GEOFFROII (Wagl.). 



Charadi'ius leschenaultii, Lesson. 



Ch.fuscus, Cuv. 



Hiaticula rufinus, Blyth. 



This, the largest species of Ring-Plover known, was abundant 

 on the sandy shores of Foi'mosa. The stomachs of those I 

 examined were lined with epithelia of a mud-colour, and tilled 

 with remains of small univalve mollusks and Crustacea. This 

 species is at once to be recognized by its large size, its heavy 

 bill, and by its having no indications of the white nuchal collar. 



$, shot 29th August 1861. "Length 81 in.; wing 5^; 

 tail 2^^, of 12 feathers. Bill blackish brown, ochreous flesh- 

 colour at base of lower mandible. Inside of mouth flesh-colour ; 

 tongue blackish at tip. Eye large and blackish brown. Legs 

 light yellowish grey, with a tinge of green ; toes more leaden- 

 coloured, with black claws.^' 



122. iEaiALITES CANTIANUS (Lath.). 



Very abundant all the year round. Numbers breed with us. 

 This species is very variable in the length of bill, as also in the 

 intensity of the red and black of its nuptial dress. Some speci- 

 mens also, during summer, become very much faded, some almost 

 to albinism, ^gialites nivosa, Cassin, seems to me no other than 

 this bird. Cassin's species was founded on a single specimen 

 procured in California (see 'Birds of North America,-* p. 696). 



