238 BIRDS OP EGYPT. 



236. ^GiALiTis Geoffroyi (Wagler). Large Sand-Plover. 



Although I only know of two specimens of this bird having 

 been brought back from Egypt, one in Mr. E. C. Taylor's 

 collection and one in my own, I do not look upon it as of 

 rare occurrence in that country ; but it is doubtless absent 

 from most Egyptian collections on account of its habit of 

 frequenting the sandy shores of the lakes near the sea, which 

 are rarely visited by the Nile tourists. I saw a flock of 

 twenty of these birds on Lake Mareotis, when I obtained my 

 specimen, in the beginning of February ; and towards the end 

 of March, near Damietta, I again saw considerable numbers 

 of a Plover, which was probably this bird ; but, owing to its 

 shyness, I was unable to procure a shot. 



The specimen I obtained on the 6th of February has a well- 

 defined collar of hair-brown inclining to rufous in the centre, 

 showing that at that early season it has already begun to as- 

 sume its breeding-plumage. 



Winter plumage. — Upper parts, with the exception of the 

 forehead, pale hair-brown ; forehead and underparts white ; 

 lores, under the eye, ear-coverts, and a spot on each side of 

 the breast hair-brown ; primaries dusky, fifth and consecutive 

 one marked with white on their outer web. 



Summer plumage. — A black band behind the white fore- 

 head ; lores, under the eye, and ear-coverts black ; top of the 

 head, nape, and pectoral collar ferruginous. 



Beak and legs black ; irides dark brown. 



Entire length 8*7 inches; wing, carpus to tip, 5'5 ; beak 

 0"9 ; tarsus r4. 



Fig. Harting, Ibis, 1870, p. 878, pi. 11. 



