332 BIEDS OF EGYPT. 



Entire length 13 inches ; culmen 1 ; wing, carpus to 

 tip, 9 ; tarsus 1'9. 



Fig. Gould, B. of EuT. pi. 291. 



228. HoPLOPTERUS spiNosus (Linn.). Spur-winged Plover. 



The Spur-winged Plover is one of the most abundant birds 

 in Egypt, where it remains throughout the year. In the 

 fields and on the sandbanks it may be constantly seen, either 

 sitting motionless, with head depressed and shoulders up, 

 trying to elude observation, or else standing erect, and con- 

 stantly moving the body with a little spasmodic jerk. Its 

 cry is loud and varied, and is frequently heard. In March 

 this species commences to breed, at which season I have 

 found as many as thirty nests close together towards the 

 point of a sandbank; it also breeds in the fields. The 

 nest consists of a neat circular shallow hole in the sand, 

 roughly lined with short pieces of dried reed, just sufficient to 

 prevent the eggs from touching the ground. 



A sharp hlack spur on the carpal joint of the wing ; upper 

 part of the head, nape, and throat black, remainder of the 

 head and neck white ; back, scapulars, and inner half of the 

 wing-coverts hair-brown, remainder of the wing-coverts and 

 basal portion of the secondaries pure white; primaries and 

 ends of the secondaries black ; tail-coverts and basal half of 

 the tail white, the remainder black ; chest and sides of the 

 abdomen black, remainder of the abdomen, flanks, and under 

 tail-coverts white ; beak and legs black ; irides red. 



Entire length 12 inches ; culmen 1 ; wing, carpus to tip, 

 8-2; tarsus 2-1. 



Fig. Gould, B. of Eur. pi. 298. 



