CEYLON RAILS, WADERS, GULLS, AND TERNS. Zt 
Habits —Sometimes seen away from water in dry or sandy 
fields, but generally found on sandy margins of large tanks or 
in river beds. With us migrant birds appear to frequent 
sandy wastes near the coast. Resident birds appear to nest 
about June, the eggs being slightly smaller than those of 
Af. alexandrina, averaging about 1°14 by ° 84. 
Sub-family Hematopodine. 
Stilts, Oyster-catchers, and Avocets. 
A group consisting of three widely-spread genera : Hema- 
topus (the Oyster-catchers) ; Himantopus (the Stilts) ; and 
Recurvirostra (the Avocets), together with one curious central 
Asian bird Jbidorhyncus (the Ibis Bill). The last-named 
genus does not occur in Ceylon ; in each of the other genera 
we have a single species. All three are birds of medium, size 
found by the water’s edge, and feeding on molluscs, crustacea, 
worms, &c. ‘Two of them are rare winter visitors to our shores, 
the other—the Black-winged Stilt—is fairly common and 
largely resident. All of them have the front toes webbed to 
a certain extent, a pied plumage, long pointed wings, and a 
long bill. The shape of the bill, however, differs greatly, 
affording an easy means whereby the three forms may be 
distinguished. 
Rough Key to Ceylon Hematopodine. 
A.—No hind toe; bill straight, strong, chisel-tipped, and 
longer than tarsus. 
Hematopus ostralequs (the Oyster-catcher). 
B.—No hind toe ; bill straight, slender, pointed, and shorter 
than tarsus. 
Himantopus candidus (the Black-winged Stilt). 
C.—A small hind toe ; bill curving upwards, thin, flexible, 
and pointed. 
Recurvirostra avocetta (the Avocet). 
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