€ 95") 
yellowish brown ; upper tail-coverts white ; tail white tipped brown; 
white also about the wings ; breast dull yellowish brown; beneath 
and under tail-coverts white. 
Famity CHARADRIIDA (Plovers). 
Here we have a different group of birds, which ascend our larger 
rivers. In spring they pass over in big numbers into Thibet and 
high altitudes to breed. The bill of these birds, is straight and 
strong; wings fairly long and pointed ; tail generally short ; tarsus 
long ; toes short as a rule. Plovers are gregarious, they are generally 
seen feeding on damp secluded hollows and wide grassy downs; 
usually preferring sides of rivers to forage. They are more frequently 
met with in the cold weather, on banks and shingly shores of Great 
Runjeet and Teesta rivers at no great elevation. Their easy flight 
and more typical colour makes them readily distinguished, more so, 
as plovers are a well known type of birds. They differ from Snipe 
and Sandpipers chiefly in size and shorter bills. Like the latter 
sub-family Cursorine, they run with ease. In build they are stout 
and more robust. As both Plovers and Lapwings are well known 
birds they scarcely require a separate account with each. 
Sup-Famity CHARADRIIN A (Plovers). 
Bill short and weak ; tarsi shortish ; wings long and pointed Ist 
quill longest ; tail short ; usually having either a small or no hind 
toe. Charadrine are birds of fairly small size. 
(844) SQUATAROLA HELVETICA, Grey Plover, is generally found 
on banks of big Indian rivers. Size about 12 inches; bill black ; 
irides dusky brown ; colour is deep black on the forehead, throat 
and underparts ; a little white edgings to the feathers on the head 
and sides of the neck ; upper plumage is brown barred with black 
and white. These plovers are frequently, among the birds, for sale 
in game-stalls of New Market, in Calcutta, together with a miscella- 
neous collection of Snipe, Stilts, Sandpipers and even Jacanas, 
