212 SPOLIA ZEYLANICA. 
HA4&MATOPUS OSTRALEGUS (Blanford, Vol. IV., p. 245; 
Legge, p. 987). 
The Oyster-catcher. 
Description —Head and neck, upper back, scapulars, and 
tertiaries black ; lower back, rump, tail coverts, and under 
plumage from the lower neck white. The primary coverts 
and primary quills are black, with some white on the latter ; 
there is also some white on the edge of the wing, and a white 
wing band formed by the tips of the median coverts, the outer 
secondary coverts, and the inner secondary quills. The tail 
is white with a broad black band at the tip. 
Young birds are browner, and have a patch of white on the 
throat. 
Bill orange-red at the base, yellower and more dusky at the 
tip ; iris red, orange, or browny-red ; legs and feet brownish- 
purple, the toes slightly webbed at the base, and with broad 
soles. 
Length 16; wing 10; tail 4; tarsus 2:1; bill from gape 3 
to 3°25. 
Distribution —A rare and occasional visitor during the 
north-east monsoon to the coast from Jaffna to Puttalam. 
Found during the winter on the coasts of India and Burma, 
but not common, except in the north-west. Found by the 
sea in most parts of Europe and Asia, breeding in the north 
and. wintering in the south. 
Habits —Usually seen in small troops, which keep largely 
to the shore, feeding between high and low water marks on 
shellfish, &c. Especially fond of rocks uncovered by the tide. 
A very wary bird. 
HIMANTOPUS CANDIDUS (Blanford, Vol. IV., p. 247 ; 
Legge, p. 919). 
The Black-winged Stilt. 
(Plate II., fig. 8.) 
Description. —Adult male: Head, neck, lower parts, lower 
back, and rump white, the crown and nape often being tinged 
with gray. The upper part of the back, the wing coverts, 
and wings, together with the wing lining, glossy green-black ; 
