— 
PLOVERS. 53 
Wattled Lapwing (Sarciophorus tectus) (555). In the Black-thighed 
(Xiphidiopterus cucullatus) (642) and Latham’s Wattled Lapwing 
(Lobivanellus lobatus) (648), both wattles and spurs to the wings are 
found; while others, such as the Cayenne Lapwing (Belonopterus cayen- 
nensis) (§54) and the Egyptian Spur-winged Lapwing (Hoplopterus 
spinosus) (648), have spurs only. The latter species is believed by some 
to be the “ Crocodile-Bird ” of the earlier writers, and is said to enter the 
mouths of Crocodiles to feed on the parasites attached to the gums. 
The Sociable Plover (Chetusia gregaria) (652), which ranges from 
South-eastern Europe and North-east Africa to Central Asia and India, 
is interesting to British ornithologists as having been captured three 
times in Lancashire. 
The Avocets and Stilts (Himantopodine) (657-562), which complete 
the series in this Case, are singularly interesting types, the former 
especially so on account of the form of the bill, which is upturned and 
drawn out into an extremely fine point. The common Avocet 
(Recurvirostra avocetta) (561) at one time bred in considerable numbers 
in the fen-country in the east of England, but now occurs only as a 
visitor on migration. ‘The Banded Avocet (Cladorhynchus leucocephalus) 
(560) of Australia, a remarkably handsome bird, represents an inter- 
mediate form with the bill but shghtly curved upwards and the 
feet partially webbed. The Stilts have remarkably long legs and 
a straight slender bill and obtain their food by wading. The Black- 
winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) (657) has visited Britain on many 
occasions, and is widely distributed over Europe, Africa, and Asia. 
Family V. Cursorito#. Coursers. 
This small group of Plover-like birds inhabits Africa and ranges 
through Southern Asia to India and Ceylon. One species, the Cream- 
coloured Courser (Cursorius gallicus) (664), breeds in the Canary 
Islands and occasionally wanders to England. It frequents dry sandy 
plains and deserts, running with extraordinary speed and rarely taking 
wing, though at times its flight is protracted. Insects such as grass- 
hoppers form its principal food, and its eggs, two in number, are deposited 
on the bare ground, which they closely resemble in colour. An allied 
genus is represented by the Two-banded Courser (Rhinoptilus bicinctus) 
(565). One of the most interesting species is the Black-headed Plover 
(Pluvianus egyptius) (868), also known as the “ Crocodile-Bird.” 
Like the Egyptian Spur-winged Lapwing it is said to enter the mouths 
of Crocodiles in search of leeches and other parasites which adhere 
to the great reptile’s gums. 
[Case 28. | 
[Case 29, ! 
