CHARADRIAD^. 295 



Genus SQUATAROLA, Cuvier. 

 Bill nearly as long as the head, more or less strong and 

 straight, with the basal portion of the culmew depressed, the 

 apical part strong, vaulted, and curved, the sides compressed 

 and grooved on both naandibles ; the gonys short and ascend- 

 ing ; the nostrils basal, lateral, linear, and placed in a groove, 

 which extends beyond half the length of the bill ; wings 

 long and pointed, with the first quill the loni^est ; tail long, 

 broad, and rounded ; tarsi longer than the middle toe, slender, 

 and covered with reticulated scales in front ; toes four ; the 

 outer toe longer than the inner, and united at the base by a 

 membrane ; the hind toe very small, and not touching the 

 ground ; the claws small, compressed, and slightly curved. 



562. Squatarola Helvetica; pi. Eni. 853, 854, 



923 ; Tringa Squatarola, Gmel. Sys. Nat. 1, 252 ; 

 Tringa Helvetic^ Linn. Sys. Nat. 1, 250; Grey- 

 Plover ; Vanellus Melanogaster, Bechst. 



6 in summer plumage : fore part of head, neck, chest, and 

 belly, deep brown-black, bordered by a white line, which 

 blends into the ground of the back and top of the head, 

 both of which are more or less mottled with dark-brown and 

 black ; vent and thighs pure- white ; tail white, transversely 

 barred with brown-black ; the plumage in winter is dark- 

 grey, variegated with light markings, the black plumage 

 disappearing entirely. The 9 is similar to the male in 

 winter dress. Length, 12" ; wing, 7" 10'" ; tail, 3" 6'". 



I have never seen the Grey Plover in the summer or breeding 

 plumage in this country ; but many specimens in winter dress have 

 occurred to me both here and on the East Coast of Africa, where, as 

 far as 1^" South, I shot it in considerable numbers. 



Genus CHARADRIUS, Linn. 

 Bill more or less short, robust, and straight ; the culmen, 

 for two-thirds its length, usually depressed, and the tip 

 vaulted and curved ; the sides compressed, and furnished in 

 both mandibles with a groove, which extends on the upper 

 mandible for two-thirds of its length ; the nostrils basal, 

 linear, and placed in a groove ; wings long and poiuted, with 

 the first quill the longest ; tail moderate, broad, and rounded ; 

 tarsi longer than the middle toa, more or less blender, and 

 covered in front with small reticulated scales ; toes three, 

 moderate, the outer toe longer than the inner, and more or 

 less united at the base bj'' a membrane, the inner one usually 

 free, the hind toe wanting ; the claws small, compressed, and 

 slightly curved. 



