STREPSILAS. 



115 



Hah. — Throughout India, including Burmah, also Ceylon and Persia. Affects 

 stony places, waste land, grassy plains, dry river beds and the sides of sloping 

 banks ; runs very swiftly, especially when first surprised, stops short now and 

 again after the manner of Cursorins isabellinus, and squats close to the 

 ground, depending for safety on the colour of its plumage, which is like 

 that of the ground. Its flight is strong and steady, but it seldom uses its 

 wings, except when hard pressed ; usually turns out in the evening in quest of 

 food, which consists chiefly of worms. The young are said to run from the 

 nest within three hours of their birth. It is not uncommon to meet with parties 

 of this bird in looking for Oobara (fl". MacqtieenW) among Grewia bushes, and 

 perhaps from this circumstance and its lineated plumage it is called the " chota 

 or small Taloor." It is, as Jerdon says, a favourite quarry for the Sparrow 

 Hawk and the Besra. Its flesh is as much esteemed almost as that of the 

 Houbara, being highly flavoured. Breeds in Sind from February to April. 

 It makes no nest, the eggs being laid in a small depression iii the ground, 

 usually sheltered by a stone. 



Family, HiEMATOPODID^, Bp.—Szx Plovers. 

 Feet with three toes, and a very small hind toe ; bill long, strong, front half 

 compressed, tip blunt ; wing long and pointed. 



Sub-Family, STREPSILIN^.-^/.. 

 Characters those of the Family; bill slightly curved upv;ards. 



143. Strepsilas interpres {/Jnn.), Jerd., B, ind. ii. p. 656; 



Salvad.^ Ucc. Born, p. 320; Blylh, B. Burm., p. J 54; Dresser, B. Eur. vii. 

 p. SSS^ pl« 5 f^ume, Sir. F. iv. p. 464; Murray, Vert. ZooL, Sind, p. 233; 

 Legge, B. Ceylon., p. 987; Oates, Sir. F. x. p. 238; id., B. Br. Burnt, ii. 

 p. 376; Murray, Avif. Br'xl. hid. ii. p. 597, No. 1274. Cinclus interpres, 

 Hume, Sir. F. i. p. 233 ; ii. p. 292. Tringa interpres, Linn., Sysl. Nat. 

 i. p. 248. — The Turnstone. 



Strepsilas interpres. 



