94 0TIT1D.€. 



also white ; back of the neck and upper back occupied by a broad, intensely 

 bright chestnut collar, entirely unmarked and unspotted ; ear coverts, sides of 

 the head, and a line under the eye pale fulvous, dotted with black ; entire 

 chin, throat and upper breast bright ferruginous ; rest of the plumage like 

 that of the male ; irides white ; legs and feet yellow, tinged orange ; upper 

 mandible horny brown, yellowish at gape ; lower mandible yellow, tipped 

 horny. 



Lefigih. — 6 inches ; wing 3 ; tail 1-4 ; tarsus 0-9 ; bill from gape 07. 

 2/ab. — Port Blair in the x\ndamans ; also the Nicobar Islands. 



ORDER, GRALLATORES,— Waders or Shore Birds. 



Tarsi long, rounded ; tibia bare to a greater or less extent ; hind toe imper- 

 fect in most or absent ; wings long ; neck long or of moderate length, generally 

 \n proportion to the length of the legs ; bill variable in size and structure. 

 All, except the Ostriches and Emeus (which do not fly) fly well, and stretch 

 their legs out behind them during flight. 



Tribe, PRESSIROSTRES.— C«-.7Vr. 



Hind toe small, absent or moderate ; bill depressed at base, and rather 

 compressed on the sides. It comprises the Otitida; or Bustards and Floricans ; 

 the Cursoridce, or Courier Plovers ; Glareolidce. or Swallow Plovers ; Chara- 

 dridce or Sand Plovers ; HccmatopodidcE or Shore Plovers, and the Gruidcz or 

 Cranes. 



Family, OTITID.E. 



Bill compressed, the tip scooped, and slightly curved ; nostrils in a mem- 

 branous groove, partially closed ; wing, 2nd to 4th quills longest ; tertials 

 nearly as long as the primaries ; tarsi reticulated ; hind toe absent ; plumage 

 mottled fulvous and black. Food insects, young shoots, and grain. As game 

 all the members of the family Otitidse are eagerly sought after. For the table 

 there is scarcely any other bird so succulent and delicious. 



Gen. Otis. — Lin. 



Bill moderately long, pointed and nearly straight ; legs long, and strong ; 

 tarsi reticulated ; claws short and blunt ; wings ample ; moustachial tufts 

 long. 



121. Otis tarda, Linn., Syst. Nat. ii. p. 279 ; MacGillivray, B. 

 Eur. iv, p. 31 ; Ilume, Sir. F. vii. p. 4345 id. and Marsh., Game Birds 



